Panetta defends cautious US approach toward Syria
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday defended US caution in trying to end the ongoing violence in Syria, despite biting criticism from lawmakers who questioned how many people would have to die before the Obama administration used force.
Panetta and General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both told the Senate Armed Services Committee that US intelligence agencies believed it was just a matter of time before Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power. (Reuters)
