Stephen P. Condon, the Board Chairman of the Air Force Association, on Monday sent a letter of support to President Bush, affirming AFA’s backing for the Administration position that US military forces must not withdraw from Iraq before finishing the job—that is, before Iraq has been stabilized. Condon called victory in Iraq an “imperative” that “will not be easy or cheap” to attain, but worth the effort. (Read the letter here.)
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.