Uzbekistan has told NATO and its allies that they can no longer use the Central Asian country’s territory or airspace to support operations in Afghanistan. The Uzbeks earlier kicked the US military out of Karshi-Khanabad Air Base—the Pentagon paid its bill for use of the base earlier this month. (DR 11/21/05) The NATO deadline is Jan. 1. According to Associated Press news service, NATO officials say there are other capabilities available to ensure the mission is undeterred.
Fresh off its most ambitious test yet of an autonomous cargo plane, the Air Force is preparing to go even bigger by deploying and operating another such aircraft for an entire year.