France, Germany, and Spain rejected the argument by US and British defense chiefs that it is time for NATO to step in and relieve US forces of some counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan. (DR, 9/15/05) At a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Rumsfeld expressed the belief that NATO, at some point, could take over fighting insurgents in Afghanistan. The allies do plan to extend their peacekeeping role, but plans to merge command of the NATO mission and the US/coalition mission may be up a creek, as well.
Members of the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing helped save 11 airplane crash survivors off the coast of Florida on May 12. The Reserve Airmen were flying an HC-130J Combat King II and an HH-60W Jolly Green II on a routine training flight when a Coast Guard call diverted…