Despite protestations to the contrary, a new poll of 22 countries undertaken by BBC World Service indicates that many people believe the US intends to install permanent bases in Iraq. An average of 49 percent holds this belief, compared to about 36 percent that believe the US will withdraw all its forces once Iraq becomes stabilized. Among the countries with the most respondents believing that the US intends a permanent presence in Iraq are Mexico (75 percent), Italy 73 percent), Egypt (68 percent), Turkey (64 percent), and Germany and France (59 percent). (Read detailed findings here.)
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…
