Leon panetta News

Washington - The White House wishes for the Benghazi disaster to go away, but the issue is well and alive and has caused a temporary delay in Chuck Hagel's confirmation as Secretary of Defense. A White House letter sent to three Senators leaves more questions.

Washington - US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has announced that the Pentagon is removing the military's ban on women serving in front-line combat, opening the door for American women to kill-- and be killed-- in increasing numbers.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is planning to announce he is removing the ban on women serving in combat, something women have pushed for for decades.

US President Barack Obama may name his new defense secretary in December, which is much sooner than originally expected. He may choose to announce his pick for secretary of state at the same time.

The hand-written memo authorizing a mission to kill Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, written one year ago, has been released. The note with the heading "Memo for the Record," was scribbled by Leon Panetta, then director of CIA on the morning of April 29.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta says he is concerned about a Pakistani doctor who provided the key information to find al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta became the first Pentagon chief to set foot on Libyan soil after he arrived in Tripoli on Saturday for talks with the new leadership of the north African country.

With anxiety growing in Israel that Iran may adopt Israel's nuclear ambiguity position and with calls by Netanyahu for changes to the Quartet Middle East peace plan, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned on Israel's growing isolation.

Washington - Although no final decision has been made on the number of US troops remaining in raq after 2011, discussions between the Obama administration and Iraqi government include an option of keeping 3,000 forces there starting next year.

Baghdad - New US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Iranian weapons being used in Iraq to arm extremists and kill American troops, noting those weapons pose a serious threat and the US should not just “stand back” in allowing it to happen.