Wynne’s Nomination—No Worries?

The Boeing tanker-lease controversy evidently no longer is a threat to confirmation of Michael Wynne as Air Force Secretary. That, at least, is the word from Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. According to Levin, Wynne appears likely to have clear sailing when he faces the panel, which is supposed to hold a hearing on his nomination today. The link between the tanker deal and Wynne was always a tenuous one, more smoke than substance, but some Senators had seized upon it as a club. Levin, one of the Senate’s most astute politicians, wryly told reporters at a private meeting on Wednesday, “Somehow, I’m under the impression that that’s no longer a problem.” Wynne would replace acting SECAF Pete Geren.