The United States Senate has unanimously approved the nomination of Leon Panetta, the Central Investigation Agency director, to be the next Pentagon chief. He would succeed Robert Gates, who is one of longest serving US Defence Secretary.
Leon Panetta, who has no direct intelligence gathering or analysis experience, is set to become chief of the Central Intelligence Agency, with a powerful US Senate Committee voting unanimously on his nomination by President Barack Obama.
United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, who places much importance to America's relationship with India, is looking forward to his maiden visit to India in his capacity as head of the Pentagon, a senior US official has said.
United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has decided to allow women to serve in combat roles in the military, a senior official said on Thursday, as lawmakers termed the ground-breaking move as historic.
The United States on Wednesday promised to initiate measures to provide access to dual use technology to India which has been contending that American norms were leading to denial of export of such sophisticated items.
The situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan and strengthening of military cooperation between India and the United States are expected to come up for discussions American Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, who arrives in New Delhi on Tuesday for a two-day visit, will have with Indian leaders.
The series of tough international sanctions have weakened Iran, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on said on Monday, adding that even though Tehran has not taken a decision on building nuclear weapons, intelligence information says that it continues to develop their nuclear capabilities.
The United States now faces new array of security challenges from across the globe, including the rise of new powers in Asia; behaviour of countries like Iran and North Korea and proliferation of lethal weapons, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Thursday.
The United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said that he did not discuss specifically the Indo-American ties with China, during his recent visit to that country.
Distancing himself from former United States Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Mike Mullen's remark about the Inter-Services Intelligence-Haqqani network links, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said Pakistan has been asked to take action against the Haqqani network.
The United States has told Pakistan in clear terms that it has to act against all militants operating inside its territory and Islamabad cannot 'pick and choose' among terror groups, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said.
On his maiden visit to India as the United States Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta would focus on taking the Indo-US defence ties to the next level, besides discussing the situation in the region and the 'rebalancing' of his country's posturing in the Asia Pacific region.
Noting that its relationship with Pakistan was "complex", United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said "the problem" lies with Islamabad's perception of being "threatened by India".
It was one thing to hold India to ransom and periodically threaten nuclear blackmail. But it was not going to work against the US. The US, as always, learned the hard way that it was not or need not be all that dependent on Pakistani cooperation and generosity, says Vikram Sood.
United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said that Al Qaeda is the primary enemy of United States in the Af-Pak region and those parts of the Taliban who support Al Qaeda is also American target.
United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on Tuesday hinted at taking action against the Navy SEAL who wrote a book on the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, saying he violated his contractual obligations and the authorities cannot set a wrong precedent by ignoring it.
Pakistan on Friday reacted strongly to United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta's remarks questioning its actions in tackling terrorism, saying the sharp comments only added an "unhelpful twist" in the already oxygen-starved ties. Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman said the remarks have further reduced the space for narrowing bilateral differences that have been hit by a series of conflagrations in the recent past.
A dangerous flashpoint in United States-India relations faces visiting US Secretary of Defence, Leon Panetta, who faces tough questions from Indian officials on Tuesday, writes Ajai Shukla
United States should place conditions on release of about $3.5 billion aid to Pakistan based on "what we expect them to do", Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has told the Congress.
United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has ruled out paying Pakistan USD 5,000 per truck carrying vital supplies across its territory for NATO troops in Afghanistan, citing financial challenges faced by America.
United States is still facing some severe challenges like terrorism and cyber security and needs to be prepared to confront them wherever they are, outgoing US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday.
United States faces an imminent threat of a "cyber Pearl Harbour" attack, which could cause massive physical destruction and loss of life, paralyse and shock the nation and create a profound new sense of vulnerability, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said.
The long awaited strategic partnership agreement signed by United States President Barack Obama and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai in Kabul reflects the common vision for a strong relationship between the two countries, a top American official has said.
America is safer today from the 9/11 type of attacks because of the persistent actions taken by the United States against terrorists in the Af-Pak region in the last four years, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said, while warning that al-Qaeda still remains a threat.
Terming Defence Secretary Leon Panetta's recent India visit as highly successful, the Pentagon on Monday refuted the Taliban statement that New Delhi resisted his call for greater Indian involvement in Afghanistan.
United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta overtures are welcome, but not at China's expense.
Security experts have warned that using Signal for discussions of this nature violates every established protocol for handling classified information.
The United States military is "fully prepared" for any confrontation with Iran over moves to close the strategic Gulf of Hormuz, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said, as the White House indicated that the option of diplomatic negotiations was still open for Tehran. "We always continue to make preparations to be prepared for any contingency," Panetta told reporters at a Pentagon news conference. Panetta was asked whether Washington was adjusting American forces.
Central Intelligence Agency chief Leon Panetta has held a series of meetings with senior government officials in New Delhi. Official sources said Panetta, who also met with Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Mathur and Research and Analysis Wing chief A K Verma, discussed various areas of cooperation. This is the first high-profile visit by any American official after a team of the Indian National Investigation Agency had questioned terrorist David Coleman Headley in May.
Amid a dramatic increase in drone attacks on militants in the Waziristan tribal region, CIA chief Leon Panetta arrived here today for talks with Pakistan's civil and military leadership.
Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday said the potential for another attack by al Qaeda in the country "remains very real".
United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has demoted a former head of the Africa command on charges of lavish travel and spending.
A military strike against Iran would have "unintended consequences", US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has warned, sounding the Obama administration's strongest reservation about an attack since the release of a UN report, which suspected Tehran was working on a nuclear explosive device.
Asked by Frank Sesno, former CNN anchor who moderated the conversation, if the story that Pakistan handed over parts of the helicopter that went down in bin Laden's compound -- or gave access -- to the Chinesse before returning it to the US was true, United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta first started shifting uneasily in his seat and then started laughing and said, "this is a very complicated relationship with Pakistan."
Central Intelligence Agency chief Leon Panetta has confronted Pakistan's military leadership with evidence of collusion between militants and security officials in the country, causing fresh strains in the troubled United States-Pak ties.
United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta's recent statement -- that the United States was losing patience with Pakistan for its refusal to eliminate safe havens for insurgents who attack American troops -- has created a new row between the two countries. Panetta, during a recent visit to Kabul, said, "We are reaching the limits of our patience" about Pakistan's lack of action against the safe havens for Al Qaeda-linked militants near its border with Afghanistan.
An American soldier who massacred 16 people, including women and children, in a house-to-house shooting rampage in Afghanistan could face death penalty if convicted, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said.
The United States soldier, who killed 16 civilians in Afghanistan, could face a death penalty if convicted, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said, while asserting that the tragic incident was an "isolated" one. The suspect, who has been arrested, went on a killing spree over the weekend, shooting down civilians, most of them women and children, in an act that has taken anti-America sentiment to a new high in Afghanistan.
Top US security officials briefed Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday, on the probe into the botched car bombing in New York by a Pakistani-American and discussed measures to prevent "potential attacks."
The India trip, the first to the country by Panetta in his capacity as the Defence Secretary, is part of his week-long Asia trip during which he will participate in the Shangri-la Dialogues and travel to Vietnam.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances