drug war, read Reason Senior Editor Jacob Sullum's column from December.)

This program would serve as a sort of precursor to the National Security Agency surveillance enabled by the PATRIOT Act following the 9/11 terror attacks. And while Barr was no longer working in the federal government by the time the PATRIOT Act was implemented, he still defended the program, which civil liberties advocates believe violated the Fourth Amendment's protections against warrantless searches. Testifying before the House Intelligence Committee in 2003, Barr even suggested the PATRIOT Act didn't go far enough.

Paul, for his part, has always been uneasy regarding Barr's nomination. "I'm concerned that he's been a big supporter of the PATRIOT Act, which lowered the standard for spying on Americans," the Kentucky Republican told Meet the Press inOn July 18, Britain and Sweden signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner on “future combat air.” The agreement was inked by Britain’s Defence Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, and her Swedish counterpart, Peter Hultqvist, before an announcement ceremony at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford the following day.

During this event, news of the agreement was greeted warmly by Hultqvist, the British Minister of Defence Procurement Stuart Andrew, UK Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, Swedish Air Force Chief Major General Mats Helgesson, CEO of BAE Systems Charles Woodburn, and chairman of Saab AB Marcus Wallenberg.

The landmark agreement is an overarching arrangement that commits both governments to work on a joint combat air development and acquisition program. This will provide for the development of new