美国新任国防部长帕内塔正式上任。
这位美国前中央情报局局长星期五在五角大楼宣誓就职。他在国防部的发言中阐述了他对美军面临的国内外挑战的看法。
他承诺继续坚持美国击败基地组织的努力，并称，击毙本拉登的行动是“朝这一目标迈出的重要一步”。
在阿富汗问题上，帕内塔说，美国必须承诺与它的阿富汗和国际伙伴紧密合作，确保阿富汗不会再次成为基地组织及其盟友的安全避难所。
他说，美国还必须巩固与伊拉克政府的战略关系，帮助伊拉克理解其成为稳定民主国家的潜力。他将伊拉克称为“世界上极为重要的地区”。
帕内塔还谈到了国防预算问题。他说，削减开支是必须作出的艰难选择，但他重申，他相信五角大楼既可以实现财政上的纪律性，又能构建强大的国防。
The United States’ new defense secretary, Leon Panetta, has officially taken up his new post.
The former head of the Central Intelligence Agency was sworn in Friday at the Pentagon.
In a message to the defense department, he laid out his vision for confronting the challenges facing the military both at home and abroad.
He vowed to persist in the nation’s efforts to defeat al-Qaida, calling the operation that killed Osama bin Laden a “major step toward that goal.”
On Afghanistan, Panetta said the U.S. must remain committed to working closely with its Afghan and international partners to ensure the country never again becomes a safe haven for al-Qaida and its allies. He said the U.S. must also cement a strategic relationship with the Iraqi government and help Iraq realize its potential to become a stable democracy in what he described as a “vitally important region in the world.”
Panetta also touched on defense budget matters, saying tough choices will need to be made to cut spending, but reiterating his belief that the Pentagon can achieve both fiscal discipline and a strong national defense.
Panetta is taking over the Pentagon at a time when President Barack Obama has called for an additional $400 billion in cuts to security spending.
He brings extensive budget experience to the Defense Department, having served as head of the White House budget office under President Bill Clinton, and before that, chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee.
Panetta’s predecessor, Robert Gates, retired Thursday after serving under two administrations.
Panetta told U.S. troops in his message Friday that like Gates, he too will be a “tireless advocate” for them and their families.