The nature of intelligence work in the Air Force has changed, becoming more inclined to produce “actionable intel,” reports Air Force journalist Maj. Ann Knabe. That means intel airmen spend much of their time channeling essential threat information between ground forces and aircrews. She notes that one intel squadron in Southwest Asia in 2006 analyzed more than 13,000 aircrew mission reports and produced more than 10,000 intel products for everyone from individual aircrews to wing commanders to special operations forces on the ground.
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.