NEW : ` ` I think that today may in fact have been their first mission , '' Robert Gates says . NEW : Vice Joint Chiefs chair says drones help distinguish `` friend from foe '' NEW : The Pentagon is looking to buy more than 1,000 new drones, including the unmanned aircraft used by U.S. Special Operations forces and Navy SEALs for surveillance missions. Gates suggested that the unmanned Predator missions may have already begun . NEW : Air defense , missile and radar sites , as well as troops , are authorized targets .
NEW : ` ` I think that today may in fact have been their first mission , '' Robert Gates says . NEW : Vice Joint Chiefs chair says drones help distinguish `` friend from foe '' NEW : The Pentagon is looking to buy more than 1,000 new drones, including the unmanned aircraft used by U.S. Special Operations forces and Navy SEALs for surveillance missions. NEW : Air defense , missile and radar sites , as well as troops , are authorized targets .