Pakistan based terrorists pose threat to US: Panetta
At a hearing on the future of national defense and the US military 10 years after 9/11, the focus of the discussion centered largely on defense budget cuts. The hearing was disrupted in the first 15 minutes by anti-war protestors, who raised slogans against the war, and were escorted out by the police.
Secretary of Defense Panetta said that their focus was that Afghanistan should not become a safe haven for al Qaeda again. He added that if the United States left Afghanistan in a hurry, and Afghanistan became a base for al Qaeda, the world would question the US.
Members of the committee questioned Secretary Panetta as to why the US was spending billions in wars when the US was facing a fiscal deficit and an economic crisis at home. Rep Chellie Pingree questioned why the United States was spending $120 billion a year on the wars. Secretary Panetta said he was hopeful that by 2014, the process of transition in Afghanistan would be completed.
Secretary Panetta was joined by the new Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey who also talked about the cuts in the defense budget and its impact on the US military.
COMMENTS (27)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1726728390-0/BeFunky-collage-(7)1726728390-0-165x106.webp "article")
1728297472-0/Fousey-(1)1728297472-0-165x106.webp "article")
1730806672-0/diddy-(37)1730806672-0-165x106.webp "article")
1731738952-0/Untitled-design-(13)1731738952-0-270x192.webp "ex soldier canadian dave captured by taliban sources")
1731735822-0/Copy-of-Untitled-(1)1731735822-0-270x192.webp "mike tyson vs jake paul paul wins on points as tyson struggles")
@Sohaib: Lets assume for a moment that your nukes work. Do you have the means to deliver them to the US? Even if you somehow manage to drop one on US soil, can you imagine what the US will do in revenge? Snap out of your delusional world!
@Y Khan: I agree with you . This is the frustration that's coming out. Pakistan was Not involved in 9/11 and Pakistan did not advice them to invade Afghanistan. And then Pakistan did not suggest them to fight for 10 long years. Now, MERE PAPPU Phai Jan.. Be a man. If you have already lost war to Afghans then What Pakistan can do? All you did was your Own decisions , you never consulted anyone..Now How come Pakistan is involved in all this? Was not it's US reponsibility to seal the Afghan -Pakistan borders before doing any Operation with in Afghanistan? If the Afghans flee and take refuge in Pakistan, it never become Pakistan's responsibility or proves any involvement in this. Be A man, Panetta,, and show courage to take responsibility of your Grand Screw Up around the world Whether it's Iraq, Korea, Georgia, Vietnam or Afghanistan. US adopted wrong policies and imposed un- necessary wars which it lost. It is of no use crying over split milk .
@Sitting Duck:
pakistan is not iraq.
@Sohaib: Simply possesing nukes do not make you "nuclear power". Peaople are very loosely and lavishly using that term. Dont take it personal even my country India uses this term quite casually. To be a power in "nuclear pwoer" is to demonstrate capabilities that you can withsand nuclear war and that you have well established second strike capabilities and most of your citizens can still be saved in case of fallout and that you have enough reserves and resources to last till the nuclear fallout has settled down. Pakistan does not have any of this capability, neither do India. So for either of us to act immature and start challenging real nuclear powers like USA will be extremely stupid and suicidal. By such tall claims we are not just ridiculously over estimating our capabilities but also inviting wrath to ourselves and alsoon our beloved ones and even on innocent bystander who does not care what is going on in world and is just fighting for his daily survival. So my two cents to you. STOP BEING ARROGANT ABOUT YOUR NUKES. It is not going to help you in any way. Does any of your nuke reach USA ? NO ? Then stop being a fool. Only thing Pakistan can do with it;s nuke is, because they cannot punish USA they will drop it on India and feel happy that they at least used that on their favourite enemy.
LOL...The US is spending $120 billion per year in Afghanistan and still losing the war. No wonder they are going bankrupt.
@goggi: Agree with you. It is a good advise to others as Pak is going thru it now, snakes and rats. Hope the world countries listen to this advise.
blah blah blah ...... yawnnnn
.Panetta is only saying what their immigration officers have been saying all these days...
Anyone who has stood at the immigration line at any US air port will know this...
The terrorists based in white house are a threat to the world...
U.s should end this menace now, enough has been done to each country arround the world..All strange decisions, made uselessly on astonoshing occassions are proven to be wrong, for what Bush said sorry after killing and devastating whole country "Iraq" and kept telling the No. of the Shoe thrown at his face..Same situations His allies like Musharraf and other thrashed particles have been facing... Nevertheless U.s is basically generating it
s revenue from its weaponary market and impositions of Wars on different weaker states, still Super power doesnt mean to threat other countries at the cost of feeding your tummy with Haterd and amusement arround the World, thats what has been proven by One n Only China, which is proved to be next super power without implications of threats but with the promotions of peace and prosperity...his 'day dreamings' has really made his face more controversial and obsessed.... Pakistan is not a chicken to roast that easily, me santa i mean paneta :@
Just like Iraq WMDs intel, this is solid information.
Sure, "Enemy Deprivation" is bad for maintaining defence spending. Why does the American taxpayer and voter allow himself to be fooled this way?
This man needs some rest. I guess he is repeating same old things again..
Sir, i think you should take some leaves with ur family to northern areas of pakistan
In Afghanistan based American, NATO and Indian terrorists, equipped with the most modern lethal weapons, pose even a more greater threat to the very existence of Pakistan. With their Shakuni and Chanakya minset conspiracies and intrigues, they have very successfully uprooted the basic ideology of Pakistan.......“Ittehad, Tanzim, Yaqeene-Muhkam”......unity, discipline and faith.
Imagine Shia, Sunni, Ahmadi, Wahabi, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Bhai, atheist etc sitting in a room, vainly trying to prove with idiotic arguments, only his religion is the real Truth........and suddenly snakes and rats from the ceiling fall among them!!! What shall be the psychological effect in that moment?
They have to show some action to the people at home, so the UGLY AMERICAN PANETTA is making a case for attacking Pakistan.
Well, DUH!
Read between lines: US will stay in Afghanistan as in Iraq arrangement.
Campaign on Waziristan will continue with or without PAK.
PAK military aid will cease but humanitarian aid will continue.
If it goes all worse than this, US going to contact all other NATO nation to gear up cause it dont have GUTS to go alone and invade a nuclear power as it did not have GUTS to invade AIRFORCELESS Afghanistan and Iraq alone. I guess US could not get herself out of economic crucnh by taking care of Iraqi Oil and Afghani opium. needs a longer stay there to get rich. Stop makin your nation and other a fool Mr. Panetta. You sound like a kid.
Same old story. we have heard it before all wars from CIA and they didn't justify any of the War. AlQaeda, Taliban, Haqqani then some other and other and another. it will be keep going on like this forever.
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.US' leaders are now-a-days facing strong Alqaeda/Taliban/Haqqani network phobia and before now they were facing Osama phobia and are always feeling Taliban/Haqqani/Alqaeda network menace of any attack in any forms and manifestations.
Deja Vu anybody ?? Did not we hear all this just before USA attacked Iraq ????? Sorry PAKISTAN as if past humiliations through out your small existence history was not enough , you are also fated for some serious hammering from uncle Sam himself.
that white man with specs is restlessly and hopefully waiting for positive reply from pakistan, and pakistani friendship.