Panetta, who as former CIA director oversaw the raid that killed Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden on May 2, said the hijackers underestimated the country.
"The people who attacked us on 9/11 were trying to weaken America, trying to hurt America. And instead they strengthened us," Panetta told an audience of police and emergency workers.
"Because you don't mess with this country, and what we made clear, is that when that happens, we will come and get you."he said.
Panetta thanked the firefighters and other "first responders" who rushed to the Pentagon after it was struck by a hijacked airliner on September 11.
"For 36 exhausting hours, firefighters battled what was truly an epic blaze," he said.
Panetta, who took over as Pentagon chief in July, recounted where he was on the day of the attacks ten years ago.
Out of government at the time, Panetta was on Capitol Hill briefing members of Congress as part of an oceans commission when he was informed of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.
"Everybody in the room had kind of made the spontaneous decision, better get the hell out of there," he said.
With all commercial flights cancelled, Panetta had to rent a car to drive home to California.
"I have to tell you what I witnessed that day driving across the country is something that's also seared into my memory because I witnessed this country coming together. As I was driving across the country, there were signs coming up, 'God bless America,' there were flags people were putting up, people going to churches, people holding hands," he said.
"People coming together to try to confront what had happened."
Panetta oversaw a dramatic increase in bombing raids by robotic drone aircraft against Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in Pakistan's tribal areas, as well as a concerted effort to track down Bin Laden.
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@Mohammad: Dear Mohammad, Whose history are you referring to? I think everyone knows that Americans romp around the world killing millions of people at the slightest excuse ( about 1,500.000 Iraqis alone ), and use banal Presidential statements such as "smoke em out". If you have similar data about Muslims I will be very grateful if you provide it.
"Muslims are more civilized than Westerners, and have a greater respect for human life and dignity"
Tony bhai - have you ever read any history?
It would appear to any reasonably intelligent person that America is going out of its way to attract attacks on itself. In view of Americas murderous activities over the last twenty years or so I am amazed at the self restraint practiced by Muslims. I am quite sure the self restraint is not due to fear of American retribution. I think Muslims in many countries have shown exemplary bravery. I am at a loss to know why Muslims have this restraint in view of the aggravation they have put up with from the West over many years. It may be that Muslims are more civilized than Westerners, and have a greater respect for human life and dignity.
.And it serves a very clear warning to my dear Pakistan that either we want Pakistan or we want bigot, fanatic, unislamic, and unpatriotic scum in the name of Islam to live a cave man style life. Please save Pakistan and don't cave-in to unislamic and bigoted mullahs. We must show the world that we are Pakistani Muslims and not muslim Pakistanis.