Rep. Kay Granger (R-Tex.) won approval for her “lift the ban on F-22 export sales” amendment to the House version of the Fiscal 2007 defense appropriations bill. The amendment, which would delete the section that “prohibits funds in the bill from being used to approve or license the sale of the [F-22] advanced tactical fighter to any foreign government,” passed by voice vote. Granger’s district houses Lockheed Martin’s aeronautics division.
The U.S. military is sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to step up its war with Iran, adding to what is already the largest buildup of airpower in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. For now, the operation shows little sign of coming to a quick…