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.”
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.