Sen. Carl Levin, the new head of the Armed Services Committee, told defense reporters Tuesday that he would support a short-term surge of US military forces in Iraq, if it is preceded by a specific plan complete with milestones and time limits that transfer responsibility to the Iraqis. With such conditions in place, Levin believes the US could, in four to six months, begin to reduce the number of American forces. An unlimited surge as part of a plan to “stay in Iraq as long as the Iraqis want us” will lead to failure, in his opinion. “We’re already overstretched; we’ve got tours of duty that have already been extended,” Levin asserted, adding, “We’ve got a real problem.” He maintains, “There’s not a military solution.”
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…
