Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) criticizes a recent Washington Post article on the Air Force’s airlift situation, writing in a letter to that newspaper that the Congressional effort to procure additional C-17s is “not an attempt to resurrect a ‘pet project.’ ” (We reported on this Post article earlier.) In his letter to the editor, Saxton criticizes the Bush Administration for not “realistically planning for future airlift requirements” and criticizes Congress for “parochial interests” that delayed C-5 retirements. Saxton favors buying additional C-17s and letting the Air Force decide when to retire old aircraft.
The Pentagon announced new long-term agreements with four defense companies May 13 to develop and produce large numbers of low-cost cruise missiles. And while the effort will focus mostly on the Army to start, it pairs with Air Force efforts to find more affordable munitions.