Leon Panetta

The message they need to know is: we're going to do everything we can to defend our forces.

We believe that an enduring partnership with the Iraqi Government and people is in the interest of the United States.

In August, the Iraqi political leadership indicated publicly that they are interested in an ongoing training relationship with the United States post-2011.

The withdrawal and drawdown of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively, and decreasing operational tempos, as well as current national fiscal realities, have resulted in decisions to decrease end-strength and make force structure…

I'm probably one of the few people here that, having worked on a number of budget summits, ultimately did achieve a balanced budget.

We recognize that the Government of Pakistan plays an important role in this process and in achieving our goals and objectives in Afghanistan and the region.

Iraq no longer needs large numbers of U.S forces to maintain internal stability.

I made very clear to them that that was unacceptable.

We want a normal, productive relationship with Iraq going forward--a partnership similar to those we have with other countries in the region and around the world.

The United States supports enhancing the international commitment to the long-term stability and security of Afghanistan.

This isn't a cost that we ought to bear. It's a cost that NATO and others ought to bear as well.

It is clear that achieving these savings will be very hard and require difficult tradeoffs for the Department and the country.

I know you share my concern about sequester.

I do not believe that we can win and change the Afghans or the Iraqis or the Pakistanis from what they believe in.

Since the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program (APRP) was created in the summer of 2010, the Afghan Government has made steady progress.

We believe a relationship with the ISF will be an important part of a broader enduring partnership with the Iraqi people.

It sure is. The last time we balanced the budget, I thought we were in Valhalla.

We intend to fulfill our obligations under the 2008 U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement.

None of us want to see that happen.

Pakistan remains a critical country in the fight against terrorism.

I think Prime Minister Maliki, he understands that his country cannot allow Iran to be able to conduct that kind of influence within his country.

The responsibility does lie with the people on that committee to look at the entire Federal budget.

I want to thank you, on their behalf, for your support in a time of war, and for your determination to join me in doing everything possible to ensure that they succeed in their mission of protecting America.

I think the key is not to take the simple way out, which is to reduce everything by some kind of percentage across the board.

For that to happen, it must act responsibly by developing a constructive relationship with the Afghan Government, denying insurgents and terrorists safe havens inside Pakistan, and supporting the efforts of the Afghan Government to…