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 ramped up operations and maintenance spending to keep its F-35A fighters flying over the past six years, but readiness continues to lag behind goals, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.