In the wake of a US airstrike in Afghanistan on Saturday that devastated a Doctors Without Borders hospital, killing 22 people, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan told Congress he has ordered “the entire force to undergo in-depth training in order to review all of our operational authorities and rules of engagement.” Gen. John Campbell told the Senate Armed Services Committee that while the close air support mission was flown at the request of Afghan forces, “the decision to provide aerial fires was a US decision, made within the US chain of command.” Campbell said the US would “never intentionally target a protected medical facility,” adding that “no military in history has done more to avoid harming innocents.” Defense Secretary Ash Carter also released a written statement about the attack, saying the Pentagon will finish its investigation as soon as possible, and that DOD is cooperating with NATO and Afghan investigations as well. “The US military takes the greatest care in our operations to prevent the loss of innocent life, and when we make mistakes, we own up to them. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now,” Carter said.
Pentagon officials overseeing homeland counter-drone strategy told lawmakers that even with preliminary moves to bolster U.S. base defenses, the military still lacks the capability to comprehensively identify, track, and engage hostile drones like those that breached the airspace of Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 days in December…