The full Senate after floor debate Thursday confirmed Gen. George Casey Jr. as the next Army Chief of Staff. His nomination riled several lawmakers, making it out of the Senate Armed Services Committee but, unlike the relatively easy pass through for Adm. William Fallon to replace Casey as head of US Central Command, it was the subject of floor debate Thursday afternoon.
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…

