The Senate Armed Services Committee plans next week to take up the nomination of Lt. Gen. William T. Hobbins to be the new head of US Air Forces in Europe, according to a committee spokesman. Hobbins’ nomination has been on the committee’s to do list since July 29, just before Congress took its August recess. If confirmed, Hobbins will replace Gen. Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong, who plans to retire. Hobbins has been serving as chief of warfighting integration since August 2003. Before that, he commanded 12th Air Force and served as a component commander to US Strategic Command.
Congress is making moves to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, but lawmakers have only a few days left to clear the procedural hurdles necessary to ensure troops get paid Nov. 14. The issue is particularly pressing for tens of thousands of uniformed personnel in the Air National…


