Epstein Secrets

00 billion in military cuts set to take effect next year unless a new budget passes would be, in Levin's words, "a train wreck." (Defense Secretary Panetta has preferred the more apocalyptic "doomsday mechanism.") But while McCain has proposed protecting the defense budget by reducing federal spending

lpel, slicing and dicing Pentagon programs to save an estimated $490 billion over the next decade. As CIA director before his move to the Pentagon, Panetta oversaw the raid that killed bin Laden, handing Obama his signature foreign-policy achievement, and he jealously guarded his agency's turf against

ee top Obama Cabinet positions are held by Clinton veterans: Secretary of State Clinton, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. It's only a slight exaggeration to say that the many staffing changes since 2010 have resulted in the Obama camp running the campaign while the C

Arabia and Iran, and add a new player on the arena of the ongoing Cold War in the region between major regional and international actors. President Mohamed Morsi called — from the heart of the Iranian capital — for the departure of President Bashar al-Assad. In his speech before the non-alignment summit, he

ls, stressing that the Gulf security was linked to their country's security. And certainly, Riyadh was the first capital to be visited by President Morsi to corroborate his insistence on the historical relations between the two countries, knowing that Saudi Arabia had decided to help Cairo by providi

fficials talk resignedly about the need for multinational approval. "We need to have a clear legal basis for any action we take," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testified to the Senate in March. "Our goal would be to seek international permission." U.S. Ambassador to NATO No Daalder told a British audience

ong with respect for minority rights. And with little leverage except a promise of economic assistance, she struggled to coax the military and Mr. Morsi to resolve their rift. She also faced anger from Christian leaders, including some who boycotted a meeting with her on Sunday, objecting to what th

he official, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, did not mention the Brotherhood by name but were widely seen as a reference to the group and to Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's newly elected president and a former Brotherhood leader. And they came just hours after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with

e need EFTA_R1_02207144 EFTA02722355 for multinational approval. "We need to have a clear legal basis for any action we take," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testified to the Senate in March. "Our goal would be to seek international permission." U.S. Ambassador to NATO No Daalder told a British audience

d Hussein Tantawi, did not mention the Brotherhood by name but were EFTA_R1_02207139 EFTA02722350 widely seen as a reference to the group and to Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's newly elected president and a former Brotherhood leader. And they came just hours after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met wit

ong with respect for minority rights. And with little leverage except a promise of economic assistance, she struggled to coax the military and Mr. Morsi to resolve their rift. She also faced anger from Christian leaders, including some who boycotted a meeting with her on Sunday, objecting to what

contributed to a warning last week from Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta that the United States was at risk of a "cyber-Pearl Harbor." After Mr. Panetta's remarks on Thursday night, American officials described an emerging shadow war of attacks and counterattacks already under way between the United

read, energy stability, security and cleanliness, as well as solving the problem of traffic jams. These priorities bewildered us, and through them, Morsi hit and missed at the same time. It confused us, because he included issues that are impossible to solve in 100 days. He put himself into a dilemma

ilation" before Israeli politicians, for the sake of their credibility at home and abroad, have no choice but to act. Al-Monitor Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said explicitly in Israel this month that the US will use all means to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. And certainly many in the Israeli

il of the Armed Forces and revoked constitutional amendments introduced by the military. There are two theories on what has happened. In the first, Morsi -- who until his election was a senior leader of the country's mainstream Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood -- is actually much more power

(a logistical impossibility under the Mubarak regime). I Central and South Asia Afghanistan: Following a recent visit by US Secretary of Defense Panetta, President Karzai told the press that he will travel to Washington early in 2013 to discuss the possibility of US forces remaining in Afghanistan af

imilar showing and result is expected. The low level of turnout and small margin of support reflects the current political mood in Egypt. President Morsi's November 21st decree and subsequent actions, which effectively accelerated the finalization of the draft constitution and forced a quick popular v

al foreign policy advisers from his fir=t term advocated giving weapons to the rebels — Secretary of State Hilla=y Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, CIA Director David Petraeusand the chairman of the Joint Chi=fs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey. But the president overrode them, his cau=ion of no h

el and Egypt must take convincing action now to uphold the treaty.&n=sp; Last November, when hostilities erupted in Gaza, Egyptian President =ohamed Morsi mediated a swift resolution, even providing a guarantee for t=e cease-fire with Gaza's ruling Mamas. Morsi thus implicitly 11 EFTA_R1_001 07024 E

oop presence in Afghanistan concludes in 2014. But the scaling down there and in Iraq has already freed up resources to go east. Earlier this year, Leon Panetta, the Pentagon chief, said the US would deploy 60 per cent of its naval assets in the Asia-Pacificand 40 per cent in the Atlantic — from the previou

the conflict without it spinning out of control. The hope was not off base. In August, Egyptian President Mohamed EFTA_R1_00462169 EFTA01976178 Morsi had retired the military's top brass and taken full control of Egypt's foreign and security police. The development was particularly significant gi

its time with Barak. At least a half-dozen times in the past year, he has made trips to Washington, where he usually meets with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Between the visits, U.S. military officials are on the phone with him almost every week. Though Barak deni

ther is Egyptian.) To counter that Egyptian influence, Iran is promoting a third candidate: Ismail Haniyeh, who heads the administration in Gaza. Morsi wants to control Hamas to prevent Gaza from becoming an Iranian base. He also hopes to play the Palestinian card to gain traction in relations with

n its time with Barak. At least a half-dozen times in the past year, he has made trips to Washington, where he usually meets with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Between the visits, U.S. military officials are on the phone with him almost every week. Though Barak denie

other is Egyptian.) To counter that Egyptian influence, Iran is promoting a third candidate: Ismail Haniyeh, who heads the administration in Gaza. Morsi wants to control Hamas to prevent Gaza from becoming an Iranian base. He also hopes to play the Palestinian card to gain traction in relations with