Panetta Sees ‘Difficult Choices’ Ahead on U.S. Defense Spending
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Leon Panetta, President Barack Obama’s nominee to succeed retiring Defense Secretary Robert Gates, says he expects that “difficult choices will have to be made” to rein in defense spending and reduce the federal deficit.
“If confirmed, I will work to make disciplined decisions in ways that minimize impacts on our national security,” Panetta, who is now director of the Central Intelligence Agency, said in a 79-page set of answers to questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee in advance of his confirmation hearing, scheduled for tomorrow.