The commander of the 388th Range Squadron, Col. James Reed, said the Air Force is proceeding with the next step toward increasing the airspace available to the Utah Test and Training Range. The proposal has been somewhat controversial since the airspace involved is over Nevada. The Deseret Morning News reports that Reed said public meetings are to be held next month, paving the way for a draft environmental impact statement due in summer 2008. The Air Force scaled back the proposed expansion after learning that Nevada officials thought it would negatively affect local economies.
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…