President Obama’s meeting with military leaders from 22 countries Tuesday to coordinate strategies to counter the Islamic State, or ISIS, is an important first step in developing a “strong, coordinated operation,” former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said.
“We need to realize that this is not just police action, but that we are engaged in a war against ISIS,” Panetta said during a speech at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. “Today is his opportunity to re-emphasize the coalition and make clear we are going to work together to accomplish this … and he should keep all options on the table in the event of confronting an enemy.”
The meeting of defense chiefs from around the globe at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, just outside the nation’s capital, was chaired by Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Obama attended for part of the session.
Panetta expressed frustration with the current leadership in Washington, including Obama, but applauded the commitment and “high morale” of U.S. troops.
The former secretary of defense and CIA director emphasized his commitment to “opening up the opportunity to serve this country regardless of where people are coming from.”
In January 2013, during his tenure as defense secretary, Panetta announced the end of the combat exclusion rule for female service members, which opened up more than 14,000 assignments in ground combat units to women.
“If they meet the physical requirements, we owe them a chance” to serve in ground combat units, he said of women in uniform. “This country is great because we have both men and women who serve it, and we have to make sure we maintain that.”
In his just-published book, “Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace,” Panetta wrote that “the worst national security threat we face is the inability of the president and both parties to deal with issues confronting the country.”
When asked why he would write a politically damaging book about a sitting president whom he once served, Panetta responded that he felt “no one” was governing the country in the way it should be.
“I wanted to shake up this town and country to help realize that we can do better,” he said.
Panetta conceded that Obama is confronting a difficult Congress that hinders his ability to get things done. “But the questions is, does he get back in the ring and fight, or does he stand back and give up?”
He said he had urged Obama to “continue to push these guys if you want them to do something,” referring to politicians whom he thought were concerned only with protecting themselves.
