The former head of the US intelligence service, ex-CIA director Leon Panetta, took up his post Friday as the new defence secretary, dpa reported. Panetta, 73, was sworn in to succeed Robert Gates, who retired Thursday after four and a half years in the position. After the ceremony, Panetta said in his statement: "As we begin the transition in Afghanistan, we must remain committed to working closely with our Afghan and international partners,". Another focus of his work will be directed at cementing "a strategic relationship with the Iraqi government, one based not solely on our military footprint." "Iraq must belong to the Iraqis themselves," Panetta said. Despite proposed defence budget cutbacks of 400 billion dollars over the next 12 years, he insisted that the "excellence and superiority" of US forces will be preserved. "I will ensure that our nation continues to have the best-trained, best-equipped and strongest military in the world," he said.
