The United States was the first country to offer humanitarian aid to Lebanese refugees two and a half weeks ago, according to Nicholas Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs. Burns told defense reporters Thursday morning that the US has pledged $30 million worth of assistance, including medical kits for 10,000 refugees. He declined to comment on possible US troop involvement in either peacekeeping or humanitarian actions. Burns did say that the US supports the UN plan to hold a conference in Stockholm at the end of this month to further discuss aid and reconstruction efforts.
The Air Force has finished resurrecting a B-1B Lancer, completing a yearslong process to transform a bomber that had been stored for parts in the Arizona desert into the new flagship of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.