President Bush has nominated Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert J. Elder Jr. for promotion to lieutenant general and to command 8th Air Force at Barksdale AFB, La. Elder, who currently is commandant of the Air War College and vice commander of Air University, also would serve as the joint functional component commander for Space and Global Strike at US Strategic Command, headquartered at Offutt AFB, Neb. If confirmed, Elder would take over from Lt. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, who recently was nominated to take become commander of Air Force Space Command.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…