JCS Chairman Gen. Peter Pace told defense reporters in Washington yesterday he thinks finding a way to settle inequities between the services is “worth taking a look at.” Pace said the Air Force and the Navy have been “extremely forthcoming” in finding service members to ease some of the pressure on ground forces in the war on terrorism. However, he wants to make sure the right people are in the right jobs. As for control of unmanned aerial vehicle operations (see above), “If that’s a place where the Air Force could free up Army troops to do other things, it’s worth the discussion.”
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…

