I can't even believe that the Panetta didn't even try to word things more carefully. He made it sound like he was taking specific direction from other foreign agencies. He could have focused on the president exercising his ability to protect the nation without a formal declation from Congress, as has been established by the War Powers Act and historical precedence. Instead, he made it sound like he, Leon Panetta was going to take direction from foreign powers, whether or not Congress did anything about it. No wonder the Senator was shocked at what he was hearing.