But top US military commander Gen Martin Dempsey warned against acting too quickly.

BBC: Syria opposition names Ghassan Hitto PM for rebel areas

Boeing, for example, recently announced layoffs at a plant in Texas while Lockheed Martin has warned the fiscal cliff could cost jobs.

FORBES: Beige Book: Fed Reports Fiscal Cliff Hit Holiday Season, Retailers Suffered

Boeing, for example, recently announced plans to cut its headcount in a plant in Texas, while Lockheed Martin has warned the fiscal cliff could cost the economy valuable jobs.

FORBES: Sentiment Drops As Consumers Weigh 4% Income Contraction Due To Higher Taxes

And Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness has warned that his party could not recommend that nationalists or republicans should join Northern Ireland's new police force in the present form outlined in the Bill.

BBC: RUC reform pressure steps up

In the period between September last year and January this year Mr Panetta and the chairman of the joint chiefs, General Martin Dempsey, both warned Israeli leaders that if they attacked they would be on their own.

ECONOMIST: Attacking Iran

However, Dr Richard Martin, of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, warned that treatments for premature babies sometimes turned out to cause more harm than good.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Gas cuts risk to premature babies

Sports Minister Nelson McCausland has warned that local football could lose millions in funding if Kennedy and Martin stay in their jobs.

BBC: Raymond Kennedy