: A Pentagon spokesman said the Defense Department is ready for the Sept. 20 repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law. “This is something that has been known for a long time,” said Pentagon press secretary George Little, and added, “We’ve gone through a process to certify repeal.” He told reporters at the Pentagon Monday that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen will talk with reporters Tuesday about the implementation, specifically those changes that had to await the law’s implementation. Air Force officials earlier this summer said the service was completing training for its airmen. (Pentagon report by Jim Garamone)
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.