The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Lt. Gen. Douglas Fraser for promotion to the rank of general to serve as commander of US Southern Command. Fraser is the first Air Force general to head SOUTHCOM, which oversees the US military’s activities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Fraser, currently the deputy commander of US Pacific Command, was nominated for the SOUTHCOM post in April. He replaces Adm. James Stavridis, whom the Senate confirmed on June 10 to take over US European Command. Stavridis will succeed Army Gen. Bantz Craddock, who is retiring.
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…
