We have the memo (mentioned in our Friday column) that South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune wrote to the BRAC commission. In it, he says the Air Force misinformed the commission about the potential impact of litigation over the bomber training range used by the B-1Bs at Dyess AFB, Tex. The Pentagon wants to close Ellsworth AFB, S.D., and move its B-1Bs to Dyess. As an aside,Thune says he does not advocate shifting the Dyess bombers to Ellsworth.
The United States Air Force is flying less than historic norms and funding for acquisition and readiness is on a path to further hollow out this too small and old force to that is incapable of sustaining an enduring combat air campaign.
