Jumper Sees Iraqi Need for US Airpower: Gen. John P. Jumper predicts that Iraq will need on-call US airpower longer than it will need US ground forces. The Chief of Staff, who retires Sept. 2, told reporters Iraqi forces will “require the support from the air until they’re able to set up their own ability to support themselves.” Jumper added, “That’s going to take a while, even after some future withdrawal of [US] ground forces.”
This year’s Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting buzzed with talk of countering the rapidly evolving drone threat facing the entire U.S. military, including the Air Force. Leaders and defense industry officials discussed the need for new approaches to procurement and employment of a new class of these…