A proposal for a new African Command is in the final stages and will be sent to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld by the end of October, an unnamed military official told Voice of America News. Time Magazine online reported in August that the Pentagon was working this initiative, which would put Africa under one command instead of the three that currently share the region. According to VOA, Rumsfeld requested a “milestone” proposal developed in collaboration by Central Command, European Command, and Pacific Command—all of which share some portion of Africa under the current Unified Command Plan.
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…
