Despite headlines proclaiming heavy civilian losses and recriminations from Afghan President Hamid Karzai following air strikes in Afghanistan recently, International Security Assistance Forces spokesmen say local Afghani leaders are actively turning against the Taliban. Local officials in the Helmand Province met with ISAF and Afghan National Army officials to discuss the air strikes; it was the local officials who explained to residents that the Taliban were at fault for using civilians as shields. In another province, local officials booted Taliban fighters and sought a meeting with ISAF officials to discuss the way forward.
The Air Force has finished resurrecting a B-1B Lancer, completing a yearslong process to transform a bomber that had been stored for parts in the Arizona desert into the new flagship of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.