The Pentagon is heading up and moving out on whether such a role would be legal. Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) said he spoke on Monday with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who told him the matter “is being carefully reviewed,” according to the National Journal.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
