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.”
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.