U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE PANETTA'S REMARKS AT NATO MINISTERS MEETING IN BRUSSELS

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta meets with Afghan Defense Minister Bismullah Khan during a meeting at a conference of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Oct. 10, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta; NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen; George Little, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs; and Admiral James G. Stavridis (USN), Commander, European Command, and Supreme Allied Command

 

Remarks by Secretary Panetta at the NATO Ministers of Defense Meeting, Brussels, Belgium

MR. GEORGE LITTLE: Good afternoon. I'm pleased to introduce Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, who is joined by the secretary general. With them are Admiral James Stavridis, NATO supreme allied commander-Europe and commander, United States European Command, General John Allen, commander, ISAF, and commander, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, and General Joseph Dunford, assistant commandant of the United States Marine Corps.

Following an announcement by the secretary and the secretary general, we'll transition to a press conference with Secretary Panetta. Thank you.

Over to you, sir.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LEON E. PANETTA: Okay. Thanks, George.

Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to be back again at NATO headquarters here in Brussels for my fifth meeting with my fellow defense ministers as secretary of defense and for our first gathering since the Chicago summit in May.

Over the past two days, I've taken part in a series of very good meetings with my counterparts from NATO, from our partner nations, and from ISAF contributing nations. The goal of all of these discussions is to ensure that the alliance follows through on the commitments made by NATO political leaders at the Chicago summit, including investment in needed capabilities and implementation of the Lisbon framework on Afghanistan.

We have made significant progress in Afghanistan. Last month, U.S. and ISAF forces concluded the surge of forces to the fight. For the United States, sending an additional 33,000 men and women to war was no easy decision, but it was the right decision, and it made a decisive difference.

As a result, the Taliban could not regain lost ground in 2011 and lost even more ground in 2012. Compared to a year ago, more Afghans are secure, and the conflict has moved farther away from the population centers. Coalition casualties have decreased by 30 percent from last year, a trend that emerged months before we fully removed the surge forces.

The number of Afghan security forces has now grown to about 350,000. And that larger force has maintained its recruitment and retention rates. Those forces have taken the lead to very complex combat operations, and they are suffering the vast majority of coalition casualties, a further sign that the Afghans have the willingness to sacrifice and take the fight to the enemy for their own -- for their own future.

With the surge complete, we have reached a critical moment for the alliance and for this war. There are three keys to future success. First, we must maintain a strong coalition partnership with the Afghan forces. We must do everything we can to help Afghan security forces successfully transition and take the lead for security throughout all of Afghanistan as planned next year.

That includes building the capabilities of the Afghan army and police, by providing security force assistance teams with embedded trainers and mentors. I encourage my fellow ministers to eliminate the shortfalls that we have in providing those teams on the ground.

Second, we must have an effective response to insider attacks. Insider attacks are a tragic part of every war, and the enemy exploits them to undermine mutual trust and cohesion. General Allen and I briefed the coalition leaders on the steps that we are taking alongside our Afghan partners to diminish and defeat this threat.

Those steps include enhancing training, adapting our partnering based on real-time threat information, expansion of vetting and counterintelligence operations, and the use of guardian angels to deter and stop attackers. I made very clear that what tests the coalition is not so much the problem of insider attacks, but rather how effectively we respond to those attacks. Partnering even closer will frustrate the enemy's designs to capitalize on this problem.

And, third, we have to have a careful execution of the campaign plan. As we look to the mid-2013 milestone, and to the end of the transition in December of 2014, we anticipate that we will operate from fewer bases, that the net flow of materiel will turn outbound from Afghanistan, that U.S. enabler support for ISAF partners will continue, but the scope of support will change as the transition proceeds and as we jointly reduce our forces, and that as Afghan forces assume full responsibility, ISAF forces will continue stepping back.

While we have yet to determine the necessary size and composition of the force that will remain in Afghanistan after 2014, NATO's presence should be steadfast and effective.

My fellow ministers and I came out of today's meeting united on three key points. First, we are succeeding in implementing the campaign plan that General Allen put together and that was agreed to in Chicago. Secondly, whatever tactics -- whatever tactics the enemy throws at us, IEDs, insider attacks, car bombs, we will not allow those tactics to divide us from our Afghan partners and we will not allow those tactics to divert us from the mission that we are dedicated to. And, thirdly, we have to remain committed to the principle of in together, out together.

ISAF will complete our mission to help Afghanistan secure and governance itself. And as I said to my fellow ministers, we've come too far, we've fought too many battles, we have spilled too much blood not to finish the job that we are all about.

A clear signal of U.S. commitment to the alliance and to the mission in Afghanistan is the quality of our NATO-ISAF leadership team. And now I'd like to share with you some of the very important changes that we are making to that team.

General Allen has committed ISAF through a very crucial period. And his leadership has put the campaign on the path to success. He oversaw the war at the height of its combat strength, and he oversaw the surge recovery. Under his leadership, ISAF has put relentless pressure on the enemy and built up Afghan security forces. We have turned an important corner. And all of that is now demonstrating their readiness, the readiness of the Afghans, to take the security lead.

I want to express my deep and very heartfelt thanks to General Allen and to his leadership team, to the allied and partner forces in Afghanistan, and to our Afghan partners for their commitment to this effort and to the considerable sacrifices that have been made.

I'm very pleased to announce that President Obama will nominate General Allen to succeed Admiral Jim Stavridis as commander, U.S. European Command, and NATO supreme allied commander in Europe. General Allen is well known to all of you. And if confirmed, as I expect he will, his experience as head of the ISAF forces will be absolutely instrumental in his broader role and in leading NATO's oversight of the mission in Afghanistan.

President Obama will also nominee General Joseph Dunford, United States Marine Corps, to succeed General Allen as commander, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, and commander of ISAF. General Dunford currently serves as the assistant commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. He is an exceptionally gifted strategic leader. He's combat-tested, and he believes in ISAF, and if confirmed, as I believe he will be, will be an extraordinary leader of that effort.

And lastly, let me take my -- my opportunity here to thank General Stavridis, Jim, for his service. I've trusted his wise counsel. He's been a good friend. And I've depended on his ability to sustain our military and political relations in Brussels and across the region.

While Jim will be here until the spring, we'll have much more opportunity to talk about his leadership and service. But I can't tell you how much I am thankful for all you've done in this capacity. As an Italian, it's nice to say that about a Greek. (Laughter.)

Owing to the tradition in the United States, Generals Allen and Dunford will refrain from public comment on their nomination in advance of their confirmation testimony before the United States Senate. Ladies and gentlemen, I am privileged to give the floor to Secretary General Rasmussen, and then I'd like to invite General Stavridis to say a few words, as well.

SECRETARY GENERAL ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Secretary Panetta, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure for me to announce today that allies have approved the appointment of General John Allen, currently our commander in Afghanistan, as the new supreme allied commander in Europe, following the nomination by President Obama, and, of course, pending confirmation by the United States Senate.

General Allen is doing an outstanding job in Afghanistan. I have been impressed by his leadership, determination, and commitment. And if confirmed, I look very much forward to working with him even more closely once he takes on his new role in the spring. And until then, I will continue to rely as ever on Admiral Jim Stavridis, who continues to excel as our supreme allied commander.

And if confirmed by the Senate, I also look forward to working with General Dunford of United States Marine Corps, who is being nominated to take over command in Afghanistan.

This is a critical time in our mission. The transition of security responsibility to the Afghan forces is progressing according to the timeline we have agreed. We're on track to complete it by the end of 2014 when our combat mission will come to an end. We must ensure we keep up the momentum of transition and continue to build professional and strong Afghan security forces capable of securing their own country.

I'm certain that General Dunford will take on those challenges with great skill and energy. And I'm sure we will work closely together to build on the hard-fought gains we have made.

And with that, I would now like to hand the floor over to SACEUR, Jim.

SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER JAMES STAVRIDIS: Thank you, Anders.

Thank you very much, Secretary General, Secretary Panetta, my two secretaries, it's a pleasure to appear today very briefly to say a word of pending Senate confirmation in the United States about two extraordinary U.S. Marine Corps officers.

I first would like to say I've known Joe Dunford for almost two decades. I've tracked his career. I've seen him in combat, and I have seen him take on the toughest responsibilities throughout that period, including his current service as a four-star officer and the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. Joe, you will be superb in this role. We are all counting on you.

Above all, John Allen, who I've known for 40 years, we walked into the U.S. Naval Academy together in 1972, graduated together in 1976, have known and served together lo these four decades, and I assure you, Mr. Secretary and Secretary General, you have selected the right officer to be the next supreme allied commander.

Congratulations, classmate, friend, brother, thank you. Thank you all. (Applause.)

U.S. SAYS IT'S WORKING WITH JORDAN, TURKEY REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH SYRIA

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Panetta: DOD Works with Jordan, Turkey on Syria Repercussions
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2012 - The Defense Department is working with Jordan and Turkey to help with collateral humanitarian and security issues affecting them because of the brutal war that continues in Syria, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said here today.

During a news conference held at the close of a NATO defense ministers meeting, Panetta described U.S. efforts in the Syrian border countries of Jordan and Turkey, where the numbers of Syrians fleeing to Turkey have spiked because of recent fighting in Aleppo.

Together the nations harbor tens of thousands of the more than 200,000 refugees from the violence and death produced since March 2011 by the clash between opposition fighters and the regime of Bashar Assad.

"We have been working with Jordan for a period of time now on a number of the issues that have developed as a result of what's happening in Syria," Panetta said.
One of the main issues is humanitarian relief, the secretary added, and the United States is doing what it can to help both countries respond to the flow of displaced Syrians.

Pentagon officials also have been working with Jordan in the effort to monitor Syrian chemical and biological weapon sites and to try to determine how best to respond to any concerns in that area, he said.

"We've also been working with [Jordan] to try to develop their own military and operational capabilities in the event of any contingency there," Panetta added.

For that reason, he said, "we have a group of our forces there, working to help them build a headquarters and to ensure that we make the relationship between the United States and Jordan a strong one so we can deal with all of the possible consequences" of the war in Syria.

The U.S. presence in Jordan consists of about 150 mostly Army special operations forces, some of whom have been in Jordan for several months, a senior defense official said.

The United States also has reached out to Turkey on humanitarian and chemical and biological weapons issues, the secretary said.

"They're obviously concerned about the CBW sites as well," Panetta said, "so we've worked with them to do what we can to monitor that situation."

On the U.S. approach to the situation in Syria, Panetta said the nation, in addition to working with allies to apply as much diplomatic pressure as possible, operates in three important areas.

One area is humanitarian relief, he said.

"We've provided funds for humanitarian assistance and we have provided other facilities that are needed ... to support the large number of refuges that have gathered in these different camps," the secretary said.

A second area involves monitoring chemical and biological weapon sites in Syria.

"We continue to be concerned about security at those sites," Panetta said. "We want to ensure that security is maintained and we want to be very sure that those [weapons] do not fall into the wrong hands." The United States continues to work with regional partners to monitor the situation and evaluate the security of the sites, he added.

The third area involves assisting the opposition, the secretary added, including providing nonlethal support.

"I know there are countries in the region that are providing lethal support," he said, "but our effort is aimed at trying to work with the opposition in every way possible to ... try to develop their capabilities as well."

U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PANETTA TALKS ABOUT THREATS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

Photo:  Uraguay/Argentina.  From:  CIA World Factbook.  The Rio de la Plata is the brown, rather short, sediment-filled river in the center of the image. It is the widest river in the world, ranging from around 40 km (25 mi) in width near Buenos Aires, to approximately 220 km (140 mi) near its mouth. As its water mixes with clearer ocean water, it creates swirls and cloudy formations. Visible in this image (in gray) is Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, located inland near the head of the river. Montevideo, Uruguay's capital, is located downstream on the opposite side of the Rio de la Plata (and also appears gray). Photo: NASA.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEPanetta: Western Hemisphere Nations Face Threats in Common
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

PUNTA DEL ESTE, Uruguay, Oct. 8, 2012 – Nations of the Western Hemisphere are a family sharing many of the same threats that confront them across borders and oceans, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said here today.

Panetta spoke at the plenary session of the 10th Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas. The themes of the conference include defense and security, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The secretary called these themes a central part of efforts to enhance regional security and increase cooperation between military forces in the hemisphere.

"Over the last two decades, our people, our economies, our cultures and our values have become even more connected, not just because we are neighbors but because we are one family in this hemisphere," Panetta told participants from many nations.

"We have seen a remarkable transformation in defense collaboration in this hemisphere," he added.

"All of you, representing the nations of this hemisphere, are contributing more and more capabilities to meet our collective defense responsibilities in the 21st century," the secretary said.

Last week, Panetta released the Western Hemisphere Defense Policy Statement, a framework for implementing the new U.S. defense strategy across Latin America.

In the Western Hemisphere, according to the new policy, the United States will reinvigorate its defense partnerships and pursue new ones, consistent with President Barack Obama’s approach to the region, the secretary said.

The statement’s three objectives include promoting the following:

- Strong national government institutions that allow all nations in the region to address legitimate threats to the state and their citizens.

- Shared action against shared threats through more effectively and efficiently coordinating defense forces.

- Multilateral mechanisms and institutions, like the current conference and the Inter-American Defense Board, to achieve consensus on the direction of hemispheric defense collaboration.

"On the issues of defense and security, the United States recognizes that it is sometimes difficult to determine whether transnational threats to peace and stability are matters of defense or law enforcement," Panetta said.

In some cases, he added, countries have turned to their defense forces to support civilian authorities.

"To be clear, the use of the military to perform civil law enforcement cannot be a long-term solution," the secretary said. "But as partners, the United States will do what we can to bridge the capability gaps between armed forces and law enforcement."

The United States is committed to do so in a manner respectful of human rights, the rule of law and civilian authority, he added.

"We can and we will provide a helping hand, but ultimately civilian authorities must be able to shoulder this burden on their own," he said.

On humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, the United States supports the Chilean initiative to accelerate and coordinate support for civilian-led relief efforts, Panetta said.

Nations of the hemisphere have faced earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and fires that have destroyed lives and property, he added, and they must work together to provide immediate, comprehensive and organized relief to their citizens.

The Chilean initiative facilitates a rapid and fully integrated response to disasters, the secretary noted, adding that "we should implement that initiative now so that we’re ready to respond quickly and effectively when the next disaster strikes."

On peacekeeping, countries in the Western Hemisphere have assumed an impressive leadership role by engaging, addressing and improving United Nations peacekeeping, Panetta said.

"Since the turn of the 21st century, 13 countries from this hemisphere have contributed to or led multinational security operations and U.N. peacekeeping missions around the globe," he added. These included part of the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti, composed mainly of Western Hemisphere nations working side by side to accomplish their mission.

In a new era of defense cooperation in the hemisphere, Panetta said, "Our goal is to work with those nations that want us to help them to develop their capabilities so that they can defend and secure themselves. Our interest is to work with you, not against you."