Speaking during a visit to Germany for a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld urged NATO countries to continue backing up and expanding their presence in Afghanistan. NATO troops have taken over security in northern and western Afghanistan, and by 2006 US officials believe they could take over in the less-settled southern part of the country. British Defense Minister John Reid agreed, saying NATO must have more than “paper forces.”
If the Air Force is in line for a big budget bump from President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, the head of Air Combat Command said he would make aircraft spare parts his top spending priority—but cautioned that more money to buy parts won’t equal a…


