The annual Harris Poll measuring public perceptions of 23 professions and occupations indicates that 52 percent of Americans think military officers have “very great” prestige. Harris Interactive interviewed a sample of 1,010 adults via telephone in July, and the poll found that firefighters, scientists, teachers, doctors, and nurses are the other five professions at least half of all Americans feel are the most prestigious. Firefighters rank first, with 61 percent of the public saying they have “very great” prestige.
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…

