President Bush late last week sent the BRAC commission report to Congress. Apparently, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld decided to accept the commission’s slightly slimmed down version of closure and realignment actions and not recommend that the President send it back to the Commission for rework. Now what? Congress gets to take its formal look. Quite a few lawmakers are very cross about the BRAC actions in their states. They could make real trouble. Congress must reject the report in full, or it automatically becomes law. The deadline: 45 days from Sept. 15.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.