Panetta Outlines Wide Range of Proposals to Cut Billions from Military Budget
Tejinder Singh

Washington, D.C.

The United States would need to keep fighting al Qaeda while trimming its weapons buying list and continuing the efficiency drive already instituted by the former defense chief according to the new defense secretary.

Addressing a select audience at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said, "We must continue to maintain the relentless pressure we've applied on al-Qaeda and its affiliates everywhere in the world."

Without citing the names of al Qaeda leaders killed by the U.S. in recent times, Panetta said, "We have aggressively gone after their key leaders, damaging their ability to plan and conduct attacks."

Panetta kept the pressure on Pakistan, saying, "The situation in Pakistan is likely to remain volatile and fragile as we try to reduce terrorist safe havens in a nation that continues to expand its nuclear arsenal."

About the areas his department is looking at to streamline, Panetta listed: Efficiencies; Personnel costs; Force structure; modernization along with procurement reforms.

In addition to "ruthless" efficiencies, Panetta said, "We are also aggressively pursuing efforts to improve the Department's accountability, and its ability to stand up to the scrutiny of an audit."

On personnel costs, the defense secretary cited governmental "two-year freeze on civilian employee pay," saying, "This will be an area of extreme challenge, because my highest priority is obviously to maintain the vitality of our all-volunteer force."

On the force structure, Secretary Panetta said, "While some limited reductions can take place, I must be able to maintain a sufficient force to confront the potential of having to fight more than one war."

On the modernization and procurement reforms, the secretary highlighted the ongoing "fiscal environment," adding, "Every program, contract and facility will be scrutinized for savings that won't reduce readiness or our ability to perform essential missions."

"These cuts will need to be carefully targeted ... to avoid a hollow force, to ensure that we maintain a robust industrial base, and to protect the new military capabilities we need to sustain our military strength," noted the newly appointed defense secretary.

Panetta cautioned about the seriousness of a cyber attack saying, "The potential to paralyze this country by a cyber attack is very real."

Urging the military to keep its current technological edge, the secretary warned, "If we lose that base, it will impact our ability to maintain a strong national defense."

Following President Barack Obama footsteps, Defense Secretary Panetta called on Congress to "support a strong defense strategy that may not always include their favorite base or weapons system" and "prevent disastrous cuts from taking effect."

"As fiscal constraints grow, so too will the value and importance of our international partnerships," Panetta concluded with a quote from former President Truman as saying, "The process of adapting ourselves to the new concept of our world responsibility is naturally a difficult and painful one. The cost is necessarily great."