Leon Panetta Thinking Quotations

I think the primary message to the world is that the United States is going to remain the strongest military power in the world.

Today, I think the attitude is that governing is not necessarily good politics, and the result is that it's much more partisan and much more divided.

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

The political and substantive reality is that the agenda has to change. I don't think they have any choice.

I think what both Republicans and Democrats need to do and the leaders on both sides is to recognize that if sequester takes place, it would be disastrous for our national defense and very frankly for a lot of very important domestic programs. They have a responsibility to come together, find the money necessary to de-trigger sequester.

Obama really does recognize the threats that are out there; I think he understands the world. He understands the role of America in that troubled world.

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.

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

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

China is a major power in the Pacific and I think we are dealing with some common threats in that region: the whole issue of Korea and the stability of Korea, the whole issue of nuclear proliferation, the whole issue of providing free access to our ships that are operating in that area.

The consequence could be that we would have an escalation that would take place that would not only involve many lives, but I think it could consume the Middle East in a confrontation and a conflict that we would regret.