The Governor of Montana doesn’t think it likely that the Air Force will reopen the runway at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., one of the options floated recently by the state’s Congressional delegation. Instead, Gov. Brian Schweitzer met this week with the Air Force’s top loggie, William Anderson, to discuss the potential for installing a coal-to-liquids plant at Malmstrom as part of USAF’s switch to synthetic fuel. Actually, the idea started with Anderson, who contacted Schweitzer after hearing him talk at a coal-to-liquids conference. The Great Falls Tribune reports that Schweitzer believes such an effort would produce a thousand jobs at Malmstrom.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…