Leon Panetta

The national security apparatus of the United States is a huge machine that incorporates a myriad of officials - from the commander-in-chief and members of his cabinet, to ambassadors and desk officers, to military and intelligence personnel.

Turkey and the U.S. should establish a base of action in a planned safe zone in Syria in order to ensure that "Syria goes in the right direction," former Pentagon and CIA chief Leon Panetta has told Hürriyet Daily News in a telephone interview. 

President Barack Obama has nominated former senior Pentagon official Ashton Carter as US Secretary of Defense.

If confirmed by the Senate, Carter will replace outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who resigned in November.

President Barack Obama on Dec. 5 will name former Pentagon deputy chief Ashton Carter to be his new defense secretary, a White House official said.

If confirmed Carter would replace Chuck Hagel, who announced his resignation last month. Carter served as deputy defense secretary under Leon Panetta from October 2011 to December 2013.

Chuck Hagel is to resign as US Defense Secretary, according to reports of US media outlets.

Information from the New York Times suggests a shift in Washington's military strategy against the Sunni extremists from Islamic State (IS) will result in Hagel's decision to step down, which has been taken "under pressure".

Reportedly, he has already submitted his resignation.