Leon Panetta sworn in as US defense secretary on July 1.

 

He said tough choices awaited him on cutting the defense budget but assured the US military would remain strong.

 

"While tough budget choices will need to be made, I do not believe in the false choice between fiscal discipline and a strong national defense. We will all work together to achieve both," Panetta said in a message distributed by the Pentagon.

 (Reuters/VOVNews)