Leon Panetta on Global Threats, U.S. Vulnerability, and Defending Democracy
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from March 11, 2026 | Power Without Order: America and the New Global Chaos – Venezuela, Greenland, Ukraine, and China in an Era of Power Politics. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, Leon Panetta, former CIA director, former White House chief of staff, and former U.S. Secretary of Defense, spoke with Larry Mantle about more than just the conflict with Iran. Drawing on his experience in intelligence, foreign policy, and defense strategy, Panetta examined how war in the Middle East affects other global flashpoints, exposes American vulnerabilities, and raises deeper questions about democratic leadership at home. The conversation offered a sobering assessment of how international instability and domestic political weakness can reinforce one another.
A Distracted America Faces Global Risks
Panetta warned that a widening Middle East war does not stay confined to one region. As American attention, military resources, and weapons systems shift toward Iran, adversaries elsewhere are likely to notice. He expressed concern that Russia could use the moment to intensify pressure on Ukraine and suggested that China may also see strategic opportunity when the United States is consumed by another conflict.
His point was straightforward: America’s enemies benefit when the country appears distracted or overextended. That makes strategic discipline essential, not only for the war at hand but for preserving stability in other parts of the world.
Ukraine, Russia, and the Price of Weakness
Panetta spoke forcefully about Russia, arguing that tyrants often interpret hesitation as weakness. He suggested that earlier failures to respond decisively to Russian aggression helped embolden Vladimir Putin over time. Now, with the world’s focus pulled toward Iran, Panetta fears Ukraine could receive less military support at a pivotal moment.
He argued that continued support for Ukraine is not only about helping an ally. It is also about defending democratic principles and deterring authoritarian leaders who test the limits of Western resolve. In his view, the United States cannot afford to let aggressors conclude that democracies lack staying power.
New Threats Closer to Home
The conversation also turned to possible Iran-directed drone threats against targets in California. Panetta said such warnings should be taken seriously, especially in an era when drones have become a central feature of modern warfare. He noted that low-altitude and offshore-launched drone attacks are no longer far-fetched scenarios and acknowledged that the United States may still be developing the defensive systems needed to respond effectively.
That concern reflects a larger reality: foreign conflict increasingly has domestic implications. Homeland security today includes not only traditional military defense, but also readiness for evolving technologies and unconventional threats.
Democracy Depends on Citizens
In his closing remarks, Panetta broadened the conversation beyond military strategy. As the country approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, he urged Americans to recommit to the values in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the rule of law. He argued that the survival of democracy is not guaranteed by any one leader or administration.
Instead, he said, the future of the country depends on whether citizens are willing to defend its principles. For Panetta, that is the ultimate challenge of this moment: not only confronting threats abroad, but preserving the democratic values that define the United States at home.
About America at a Crossroads
Since April 2020, America at a Crossroads has produced weekly virtual programs on topics related to the preservation of our democracy, voting rights, freedom of the press, and a wide array of civil rights, including abortion rights, free speech, and free press. America at a Crossroads is a project of Jews United for Democracy & Justice.
