Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, spokesman for Multi-National Forces-Iraq, explained last week to Iraqi journalists curious about the import of the Iraq Study Group report that President Bush decides US policy in Iraq, not the ISG authors, or newly confirmed Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who served on the ISG. Stars and Stripes reports that Caldwell explained, “Our President will consider it along with some other input he’s going to receive in deciding what adjustments, if any, he will make to our strategy.”
The Pentagon awarded a contract worth over $2 billion for the next batch of F-35 engines to Pratt & Whitney on June 5. The deal for Lot 17 F135 engines, totaling $2.02 billion, is expected to be completed by December 2025.