Obama cements drone-centric counterterrorism legacy with Central Command pick

President Obama’s pick to head a critical Pentagon post is sending a clear signal the president wants to ensure his controversial drone-centered counterterrorism strategy stays in place long after he leaves office in January, but that may not stave off pressures on the Pentagon to deploy more troops rather than drones to defeat Islamic State and other jihadi groups.

Armed drones and clandestine ground operations have been the centerpiece of Mr. Obama’s strategy to eliminate al Qaeda and now Islamic State. Defense experts say the decision to promote Army Gen. Joseph Votel to the top spot at Central Command is proof that strategy is unlikely to change during the waning months of Obama’s presidency and possibly beyond.

Read the full article in Washington Times.