A recent survey of Shia Arabs by World Public Opinion.org finds that more now favor a timetable for withdrawal of coalition forces than did at the start of 2006. A majority appears to favor a one-year withdrawal. If the US-led contingent leaves sooner—say within six months, WPO reports that the Baghdad Shia population fears “an upsurge in inter-ethnic violence.”
The Air Force is planning to award Northrop Grumman a contract that could allow the RQ-4 Global Hawk to keep flying into 2033. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center posted a presolicitation notice Aug. 17 saying it plans to award Northrop a sole-source contract for development, modernization, retrofit, and…