The North Dakota and Louisiana Congressional delegations got together Tuesday to further strategize how they can ensure the Air Force does not pursue its plan to retire 38 B-52 bombers. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) spoke with the Minot (N.D.) Daily News just before going in to the Capitol Hill meeting, saying the group wants to add funding to the appropriations legislation being taken up in May. Conrad and friends already have secured a Senate amendment to the 2007 defense budget request that would add nearly $2 billion over the next five years, specifically to maintain all 94 B-52s. That has to be half the battle.
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.
