Virginia Republican John Warner has the Pentagon squarely on his side in the fight to keep NAS Oceana off the base closure list. The senator on Thursday released a letter signed by Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England that reasserts the Pentagon position: There is “no viable alternative.” It was not on the Pentagon’s BRAC list; it was added for consideration by the BRAC commission. Our bet is still on Warner.
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…