US Defense Secretary Warns Allies That Budget Cuts Will Curtail American Support In Future War Zones

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta arrives in Cairo, Oct. 4, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey

U.S. Defense Secretary Warns Budget Cuts Mean America Won’t Be Able To Cover For Allies In Future War Zones -- Daily Mail

Budget cuts mean the U.S. will no longer be able to cover for the shortfalls that have plagued Nato's operations in Libya and Afghanistan, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned today.

In a carefully calibrated speech just before the opening of a Nato defence ministers' meeting, Mr Panetta praised the broad effort that has come together in Libya.

Read more ....

More News On US Secretary of Defense Panetta Warning NATO About Budget Cuts

US defence chief Leon Panetta warns Nato allies on cuts -- BBC
Panetta presses NATO allies to address defense needs -- Reuters
After Libya, US cannot bail out NATO shortfalls: Panetta -- AFP
Panetta Prods NATO Allies to Bolster Military Power -- Wall Street Journal
U.S. warns NATO over spending cuts, security -- Reuters
Panetta: US Military Can't Make up NATO Shortfalls -- ABC News/AP
Panetta Warns U.S. Military Can't Make Up NATO Shortfalls -- Radio Free Europe
U.S. unable to cover shortfalls within NATO: Panetta -- Xinhuanet

U.S. And Allies Discuss Nuclear Weapons

U.S. Resists Push by Allies for Tactical Nuclear Cuts -- New York Times

TALLINN, Estonia — Fresh from signing a strategic nuclear arms agreement with Russia, the United States is parrying a push by several NATO allies to withdraw its aging stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons from Europe.

Speaking Thursday at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers here, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the Obama administration was not opposed to cuts in these battlefield weapons, mostly bombs and short-range missiles locked in underground vaults on air bases in five NATO countries.

Read more ....

More News On The Future Of U.S./NATO Nuclear Weapons

U.S. signals its nuclear arms stay in Europe for now - -Washington Post/Reuters
NATO ministers want disarmament, within limits -- Washington Post
Nato must retain nuclear capability, says Rasmussen -- BBC News
Clinton reaffirms pledge to defend Europe -- Washington Times
Clinton to Urge NATO Revamp, Address European Nuclear Concerns -- Business Week/Bloomberg
U.S. Tactical Nukes to Stay in Europe for Now -- Voice of Russia
NATO Chief: Missile Defense Needed Against Irrational Players -- Voice of America
US and Europe rethink role of Cold War alliance -- Boston Herald/AP