USAF Lt. Gen. Walter E. Buchanan III, commander of US Central Command Air Forces, told the Associated Press news service at the Dubai (United Arab Emirates) Air Show that he knows that some “civilian casualties” have been “staged.” Buchanan, who retires early next year, was responding to questions about collateral damage in the war in Iraq. He told AP that coalition air forces are “very, very careful” about controlling “collateral damage.” CENTAF uses precision-guided munitions and, says Buchanan, “they are always the smallest weapons possible.”
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
