In a new Pew Research Center poll, a majority of Americans believe that decreasing our military presence is the best way to reduce another terrorist attack—a complete reversal from public opinion in August 2002. In 2002, 48 percent of Americans said the best way to reduce terrorism was to increase military involvement. Today, 45 percent say decreasing US military involvement would reduce the threat. Along the same vein, the Pew poll also found that more Americans believe decreasing dependence on Mideast oil is a “very important” step toward reducing terrorism, as opposed to military strikes against nuclear facilities or encouraging democracy and other suggested steps.
The Air Force is on track to reach its annual goal of graduating 1,500 new pilots that had proved elusive to this point, one year after the service launched a sweeping overhaul of its undergraduate pilot training program, Air Education and Training Command said Sept. 14.
