Quotes by Leon Panetta

About Leon Panetta:

Leon Edward Panetta is an American statesman, lawyer, and professor. He served in the Obama administration as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2009 to 2011, and as Secretary of Defense from 2011 to 2013. A Democrat, Panetta was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1993, served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget from 1993 to 1994, and as President Bill Clinton's Chief of Staff from 1994 to 1997. He is the founder of the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, served as Distinguished Scholar to Chancellor Charles B. Reed of the California State University System, and as a professor of public policy at Santa Clara University.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Al Qaeda still remains a threat.

Leon Panetta

Well, you know, any defense force worth its salt has to be able to deal with uncertainty, has to be able to deal with events that we may not have planned for.

Leon Panetta

An aggressor nation or extremist group could gain control of critical switches and derail passenger trains, or trains loaded with lethal chemicals.

Leon Panetta

Iran is isolating itself from the rest of the world.

Leon Panetta

In this century, the 21st century, the U.S. recognizes our prosperity and our security depends even more on the Asia-Pacific region.

Leon Panetta

I'm going to give people the benefit of the doubt.

Leon Panetta

I don't think I should penalize people who were doing their duty.

Leon Panetta

If you're a terrorist, you're a terrorist.

Leon Panetta

I suddenly realized at the CIA that I had to make life-and-death decisions about people.

Leon Panetta

The fundamental premise is that neither the United States or the international community is going to allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.

Leon Panetta

You don't deploy forces into harm's way without knowing what's going on.

Leon Panetta

I don't think there's any question that America is safer as a result of the bin Laden operation.

Leon Panetta

The United States is going to defend itself under any circumstances.

Leon Panetta

If the Iraqis fail to implement the reforms, if they fail to get a handle on the violence, there's nothing the United States can do, militarily or otherwise, that can solve those problems. They have to assume the primary responsibility to govern them...

Leon Panetta

You know, one thing I've learned over 40 years is that when you have jobs in Washington, you do it day by day and that's what I'm doing as secretary of defense.

Leon Panetta

Rather than undermining the Palestinian Authority, it is in Israel's interests to strengthen it by... continuing to transfer Palestinian tax revenues and pursuing other avenues of cooperation.

Leon Panetta

I think soon after I became director of the CIA - President Obama pulled me into the Oval Office and said: 'Look, I just want you to know that your top priority is to go after Osama bin Laden.'

Leon Panetta

I know that young people sometimes, caught up in the moment, make some very foolish decisions.

Leon Panetta

I don't usually comment on columnists' ideas of what I'm thinking. That's a dangerous game to get into.

Leon Panetta

The area of climate change has a dramatic impact on national security.

Leon Panetta

Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take risks and that we know that we have the support of the government and we have the support of the American people in wha...

Leon Panetta

Author Bio

  • NameLeon Panetta
  • DescriptionAmerican politician, Secretary of Defense 2011–2013
  • BornJune 28, 1938
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionPolitician; Lawyer