The ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, who will take the committee helm in January, told reporters Monday that he is ready to take a “fresh look” at Robert Gates, the man the President has tapped to replace Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Levin did not vote for Gates 15 years ago when Gates came up for confirmation to head the Central Intelligence Agency. However, Levin said essentially that it’s a new day and that he wants to ensure Gates would provide independent assessments.
The Air Force will send off its final A-10 Thunderbolt II from depot maintenance this month and deactivate the unit that performs overhauls, upgrades, and rebuilds on the venerable close air support jet.
