The Partners Meet in Virginia: The Wall Street Journal reports that the US defense officials and those of the eight other countries with a share in the Joint Strike Fighter program are meeting this week in Williamsburg, Va. The agenda includes the critical issue of just how many of the new fighters each country wants to buy. One hot topic, of course, may be the effort by US lawmakers to force the Pentagon to stick with its original plan to have two competing engines for the F-35.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.