Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), who last week took the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) on a tour of Malmstrom AFB, Mont., told reporters that representatives from DOD and Homeland Security would be conducting a final site survey of the base this week in anticipation of opening a new national strategic command and control center there. It is not yet a done deal, but Burns called this final visit “an important step” toward getting the center at Malmstrom. “During my tenure in the Senate, I’ve worked to expand and improve the capabilities of this important installation, … and I will work to ensure this happens for Montana.” Burns is up for re-election.
The U.S. military conducted a punishing series of airstrikes against Islamic State militants on Dec. 8 following the sudden demise of the ruling Assad regime. U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers, F-15E Strike Eagles, and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft conducted dozens of airstrikes against Islamic State leaders, fighters, and…