President Bush on Jan. 4 took advantage of the congressional recess to officially appoint Gordon England to be the Deputy Secretary of Defense. England’s nomination has been stalled in the Senate since March. The recess appointment lasts until January 2007. Now, at least, we feel somewhat better about England’s right to succeed Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. (Although it is still strange that the line now runs to the Intel guy and pals, instead of to the service secretaries. Hmmmm.)
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
