Congress passed a measure to hold off on paying the nearly $23 million that Uzbekistan said the US owed for use of the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, but the Pentagon must not have gotten the memo. (Yes, this is the base known as K2 that we got kicked out of. (DR 08/30/05) The “delay the payment” legislation is part of a bill that lawmakers are still working. However, Pentagon officials say they paid the money last week.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…