Perspectives on Current Events
Institute co-founder Leon Panetta writes occasional commentaries which have appeared on the feature and op-ed pages of several regional and national publications. Prior to his return to government service in 2009, these commentaries were published in The Monterey County Herald, San Jose Mercury News, The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post, and other newspapers. After serving as director of the CIA and Secretary of Defense, Mr. Panetta returned to the Institute on February 27, 2013. His available published commentaries dating back to 2001 are accessible below.
Commentaries from 2020
by Leon E. Panetta
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- Trump is Facing the Greatest Test of his Presidency
The Washington Post, January 7, 2020
- Trump is Facing the Greatest Test of his Presidency
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Commentaries from 2019
by Leon E. Panetta
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- The Fight Against Terrorism is Far From Over
The Washington Post, August 23, 2019 - Republicans Have Given Up on our Democratic Process — Democrats Shouldn’t Follow Suit
The Hill, March 13, 2019 - I Helped Open All Military Jobs to Women. We Can’t Go Backward.
The Washington Post, March 11, 2019 - The Government Shutdown: The President and Congress Are Not Doing Their Job. Why Are They Being Paid?
The Washington Post, January 25, 2019 - Checks and Balances: Who Leads in a Government Shutdown?
The Hill, January 15, 2019
- The Fight Against Terrorism is Far From Over
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Commentaries from 2018
by Leon E. Panetta
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- Five Lessons That Never Seem to be Learned From Shutting Down the Government
The Washington Post, December 28, 2018 - John McCain Put Country Before Party. That Made Him a Patriot
Fortune, August 29, 2018 - Americans are Losing Out Because so Few Speak a Second Language
San Francisco Chronicle, August 6, 2018 - How to Save America From President Trump’s Foreign Policy Hell
Newsweek, July 25, 2018 - Trump Has Two Choices to Avoid Disaster at North Korea Summit
CNBC, April 3, 2018 - For Thirty Years, California Republicans in D.C. Worked to Protect the Coast. Where are They Now?
The Los Angeles Times, February 8, 2018 - The World Needs to Know That Trump is Not Who We Are
CNN Opinion, January 17, 2018
- Five Lessons That Never Seem to be Learned From Shutting Down the Government
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Commentaries from 2017
by Leon E. Panetta
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- Blowing up the Debt is a Threat to America
USA Today, November 17, 2017 - What About the “Dreamers” Who Serve Us?
The Washington Post, September 4, 2017 - The Best Approach to Plugging Leaks
Fortune, August 7, 2017 - How Long Can John Kelly Survive?
The Washington Post, August 3, 2017 - The United States of Self-Interest
US News, June 7, 2017 - The Military Needs Modern Ways to Attract and Manage Talent
The Wall Street Journal, May 2, 2017
By Leon E. Panetta and Jim Talent - The Strength of a Nation: Why Trump’s Budget is a Threat to our National Security
America Magazine, April 28, 2017 - No Good Options in Dealing with North Korea
San Francisco Chronicle, April 17, 2017 - We Must Never Forget Lessons of WWI
USA Today, April 5, 2017
- Blowing up the Debt is a Threat to America
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Commentaries from 2016
by Leon E. Panetta
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- Why a World War I Memorial Makes Sense, a Century Later
Military Times, November 15, 2016 - The Former Head of the CIA on Managing the Hunt for Bin Laden
Harvard Business Review, May 2, 2016
By Leon E. Panetta and Jeremy Bash
- Why a World War I Memorial Makes Sense, a Century Later
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Commentaries from 2015
by Leon E. Panetta
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- Iran Nuclear Deal is an Opportunity the U.S. Should Seize Wholeheartedly
The Los Angeles Times, September 4, 2015
- Iran Nuclear Deal is an Opportunity the U.S. Should Seize Wholeheartedly
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Commentaries from 2009
by Leon E. Panetta
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- Governance, Budgeting Require Full Overhauls – and We Can Do It
The Sacramento Bee, January 4, 2009
- Governance, Budgeting Require Full Overhauls – and We Can Do It
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Commentaries from 2008
by Leon E. Panetta
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- Beyond Winning, the Ability to Govern
The San Francisco Chronicle, November 9, 2008 - Obama Faces Challenges of Change
The Monterey County Herald, November 9, 2008 - Who Bails Out the U.S. Government?
The Christian Science Monitor, November 5, 2008 - What Binds America is Values in Our Constitution
The San Francisco Chronicle, September 17, 2008 - Five Points for the Next President
The Monterey County Herald, September 7, 2008 - Protect our Oceans
San Jose Mercury News, August 30, 2008 - State Budget Process Crippled by Chronic Shortsightedness
The Sacramento Bee, June 22, 2008 - Americans Reject Scare Tactics
The Monterey County Herald, March 9, 2008 - We Need Real Change Not Campaign Talk
The Monterey County Herald, January 13, 2008
- Beyond Winning, the Ability to Govern
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Commentaries from 2007
by Leon E. Panetta
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- What’s Missing in ’08 Run – Candidates’ Core Beliefs Buried in Campaign Rhetoric
The Monterey County Herald, November 11, 2007 - “Surge” Not Working as Hoped
The Monterey County Herald, September 9, 2007 - Preserving the Ocean for our Children
The Good Times, June 19, 2007 - Consensus on Iraq Exists – Build on It
The Monterey County Herald, May 13, 2007 - Government a Plague of Incompetence
The Monterey County Herald, March 11, 2007 - What About Those Other Iraq Deadlines?
The New York Times, April 4, 2007 - States’ Map for Saving the Oceans
The Washington Post, February 3, 2007
By: Leon E. Panetta and James D. Watkins - The Wrong Message to Iraq
The Monterey County Herald, January 14, 2007
- What’s Missing in ’08 Run – Candidates’ Core Beliefs Buried in Campaign Rhetoric
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Commentaries from 2006
by Leon E. Panetta
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- A Last Chance for Consensus on Iraq
The Monterey County Herald, December 17, 2006 - We Won. Now What?
The New York Times, November 12, 2006 - Now Parties Must Govern Together
The Monterey County Herald, November 12, 2006 - Facing Reality in Iraq
The Monterey County Herald, September 10, 2006 - Policy-makers Should Look to Californians for Decisions
By Tom Campbell and Leon Panetta
The Monterey County Herald, July 20, 2006 - “A Republic…If You Can Keep It”
The Monterey County Herald, July 9, 2006 - Price of Gas – Curse or Blessing
The Monterey County Herald, May 7, 2006 - Immigration Reform Challenging
The Monterey County Herald, March 12, 2006 - Lobby Reform is Overdue in Congress
The Monterey County Herald, January 15, 2006
- A Last Chance for Consensus on Iraq
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Commentaries from 2005
by Leon E. Panetta
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- After the Hurricane: What Will We Learn from Katrina?
The Monterey County Herald,September 11, 2005 - Looking for Honesty in Our Leaders
The Monterey County Herald, June 10, 2005 - Where is the Battle for Ideas?
The Monterey County Herald, May 8, 2005 - California is Key to Transformation of Nation’s Defense
San Francisco Chronicle, March 28, 2005 - Time for a Party That Can Govern
The Monterey County Herald, March 13, 2005 - The Vulnerability of Modern Society
The Monterey County Herald, January 16, 2005 - New Commerce Chief Must Protect Collapsing Oceans
The Monterey County Herald, January 12, 2005
By Leon E. Panetta and Andrew Sharpless
- After the Hurricane: What Will We Learn from Katrina?
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Commentaries from 2004
by Leon E. Panetta
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- Political Crossroads: Heal or Divide
The Monterey County Herald, November 7, 2004 - Healing the Nation
San Francisco Chronicle, Monday, October 25, 2004 - Pick a Message, Any Message
The New York Times, September 19, 2004 - Déjà Vu All Over Again in Washington
Monterey County Herald, March 7, 2004 - Federal Deficit a Nightmare for Our Children
San Jose Mercury News, February 8, 2004 - Talking with Americans
The Globe and Mail, (Canada), February 5, 2004 - From Athens to Iowa: Let the Games Begin
Monterey County Herald, January 11, 2004
- Political Crossroads: Heal or Divide
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Commentaries from 2003
by Leon E. Panetta
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- Summer of Our Discontent
Monterey County Herald, September 7, 2003 - Mortgaging Our Children’s Future
The Monterey County Herald, July 13, 2003 - The State of Democracy in America
Monterey County Herald, July 11, 2003 - The End of Fighting—But What is Victory?
The Monterey County Herald, May 11, 2003 - The Deafening Sound of Silence
The Monterey County Herald, March 9, 2003 - The Economy Needs Certainty, Not Stimulus
The Monterey County Herald, January 12, 2003 - Lessons Not Learned: California’s $35 Billion in Red Ink Calls for Fearless Leaders
The San Jose Mercury News, January 12, 2003
- Summer of Our Discontent
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Commentaries from 2002
by Leon E. Panetta
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- Restoring Trust in Corporate America
The Monterey County Herald, July 14, 2002 - Washington Turf Wars Take Teeth Away from Ridge’s Office
The Monterey County Herald, May 12, 2002 - Ocean Dimension of Earth Day
The Washington Times, April 22, 2002 - A Time to Ask “Who Can We Trust?”
The Monterey County Herald, March 10, 2002 - Can Congress Discipline Itself?
The New York Times, February 8, 2002 - Davis’ Budget Has Flaws, but Works
Los Angeles Times, February 5, 2002 - Did September 11 Change Washington?
The Monterey County Herald, January 20, 2002
- Restoring Trust in Corporate America
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Commentaries from 2001
by Leon E. Panetta
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- America Must Not Lose Focus in its War on Terrorism
The Monterey County Herald, November 11, 2001 - The Politics of Geography
San Jose Mercury News, September 10, 2001 - The Price of ‘Spin’ Versus the ‘Truth’
The Monterey County Herald, September 9, 2001 - Back to ‘Borrow and Spend’
The Monterey County Herald, July 8, 2001 - Reinventing the Energy Wheel
Christian Science Monitor, May 18, 2001 - A Nation of All, Not of One?
The Monterey County Herald, May 13, 2001 - You Can’t Fool All the People All the Time
The Monterey County Herald, March 18, 2001 - The Clinton Paradox
San Jose Mercury News, January 1, 2001 - To Succeed as President, Bush Must Learn from Lessons of the Past
The Monterey County Herald, January 1, 2001
- America Must Not Lose Focus in its War on Terrorism