Leon Panetta

Sequestration would do this. It could have serious effects on our readiness and disrupt essential programs and contracts.

This is intolerable if we're going to try to protect the defense of this country.

I think they're very receptive of the strategy that we're proposing and are enthusiastic, certainly about our engagement in the region.

I would be very careful about, you know, just shutting it down.

It's important that we recognize the costs that are involved and that, frankly, all of us bear some responsibility to pay those costs if we're willing to engage in war.

No, I would not, I think, at this point in time, support that.

I deplore the unauthorized disclosures of classified information.

Deficit reduction is a critical national security priority in and of itself.

I think the Lieberman-Collins bill is one that addresses that, and we support the Congress enacting that in order to try to facilitate that capability.

I have great respect for you and for this institution.

Your resolute attention to their needs and to our security has been both invaluable and greatly appreciated.

I think that combination does make clear that they're going to be able to govern and secure themselves at that point.

If we repeated the mistake of not paying for the war that we decide to engage in, the result would be that you would simply add more to the deficit.

What we need to develop are some rules of engagement, if you will, because these things occur at network speed.

We ask the Congress to support this budget while working to avoid the deep cuts that sequestration would impose.

Our brave men and women, along with the Department's civilian professionals who support them, have done everything asked of them and more.

I think it's very important to continue to stress to those countries that they have to continue to invest in their basic security.

I appreciate your leadership on this issue. You've led on this issue for a long time during your career here on the Hill, and I respect it, but, more importantly, I agree with you.

the national security of this Nation is best served if we can develop a positive relationship with Pakistan.

I share all of your frustrations, and my job is to make sure that we don't come here with more excuses, but we come here with action.

I'm very concerned by the high rate of suicides.

I feel very good about our capabilities in terms of defending our systems with the help of the National Security Agency (NSA) and their great technological capabilities.

these cuts would do catastrophic damage to our military, hollowing out the force and degrading its ability to protect the country.

do catastrophic damage to our military, hollowing out the force and degrading its ability to protect the country

I strongly believe that accession to this treaty is absolutely essential not only to our economic interests, our diplomatic interests, but I am here to say that it is extremely important to our national security interests as well.