According to the Pew Research Center, a new poll shows Americans think the situation in Iraq is less dire. The center credits the death of key al Qaeda figure Abu Musab al Zarqawi and President Bush’s surprise visit to Baghdad for the turnaround. The June 14-19 survey indicates more Americans believe the US is making progress in a number of areas, as the graph (click on the box) displays. (Read the full survey results here.)
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.