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 crash of a T-38 trainer jet this May—which caused a weekslong pause in flights across the fleet—was caused by an improperly installed pin for one of the jet’s horizontal stabilizers, according to a new accident report released Oct. 30. When the pin disengaged midflight, it created the slightest amount…