Leon Panetta blasts âtotal dysfunction in Washingtonâ
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the nationâs most pressing security threat is coming from the capital itself. âItâs the â the total dysfunction in Washington, the fact that so little can be done by the Congress,â he said in an interview aired Sunday on CNNâs âState of the Union.â âThey canât even resolve the issue of homeland security. They canât deal with budgets. They canât deal with immigration reform. They canât deal with infrastructure. They canât deal with other issues.â Story Continued Below And Democrats and Republicans alike have criticized President Barack Obamaâs proposal to authorize the use of military force against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, saying it goes too far or does not go far enough. âIf they wind up not being able to deal with this war authorization,â Panetta said, âthat sends a terrible message to the world.â Panetta, who was also CIA director in the Obama administration, said the president âhas struck â¦ a pretty good balanceâ with his proposal. âIt probably should have been done six months ago,â Panetta added, âbut Iâm glad that the president has sent this up.â