The DOD Inspector General has decided that retired Adm. Dennis Blair did not corrupt the Institute for Defense Analyses review of the F-22A program, despite having a stake in a minor subcontractor. The IG does believe that IDA-head Blair “violated IDA’s conflict of interest standards” for not disqualifying himself, states the IG report. It goes on to state that his failure to do so had “no impact” on IDA’s F-22 work. Following the Congressional uproar over the issue this summer, Blair stepped down from his position on the EDO board.
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.