Beginning in July, US troop withdrawals from Afghanistan should be significant, but in keeping with the situation on the ground, Leon Panetta, CIA director and Defense Secretary nominee, told the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing Thursday. Despite asserting that progress made in securing Afghanistan is both "fragile and reversible," Panetta refused to commit to what Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), SASC ranking member, termed "modest" withdrawals. Pressed to define what he believed would be an appropriate level of withdrawal, Panetta emphasized the he was "not in that position now," asserting that the decision lies with the President, current Defense Secretary, and US Central Command commander. Panetta did, however, express support for a continued US presence in Iraq after the end of the year, if the Iraqi government requests that, saying "that ought to be seriously considered by the President." (Panetta's responses to advance policy questions)

Far different than the Cold War, one might describe today’s complex security environment as a “Blizzard War,” CIA Director Leon Panetta told lawmakers Thursday during his confirmation hearing to be Defense Secretary. Indeed, the United States faces “a blizzard of...

Defense Secretary nominee Leon Panetta assured lawmakers Thursday that he wants the United States to have “the very best” in terms of fighter aircraft. “I know the F-35 is the [air]plane that’s being developed as the next-generation fighter. But I...

Brussels—Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday called on NATO nations to help ease the burden on the nine alliance members currently involved in Libya. The United States continues to provide about 75 percent to 80 percent of the aerial refueling...

: Brussels—Afghan security forces are significantly more capable today than one year ago, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters Thursday at NATO headquarters here. For example, a year ago, only about 35 percent of Afghans qualified in marksmanship upon completing...

: Brussels—NATO’s 28 defense ministers agreed to simplify and streamline the alliance’s command structure and to reduce the number of headquarters personnel by 25 percent to 30 percent, said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The changes are meant to...

Air Force Reserve Command activated the 718th Intelligence Squadron at JB Langley-Eustis, Va., to help process imagery and signals intelligence gathered by USAF overhead sensor platforms and distribute useful information from that raw intelligence directly to troops in the fight....

With communities along the Missouri river threatened by floodwaters, Air National Guardsmen from Iowa’s 185th Air Refueling Wing converted their base in Sioux City to support Army National Guard helicopter operations. Several of the unit’s KC-135s are currently deployed, freeing...

Evaluators with the 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif., are testing new carbon brakes and a digital anti-skid system for potential retrofit to the legacy C-130 fleet. Using a soon-to-be-retired C-130E from Little Rock AFB, Ark., 418th FTS...