Ray Tanter, counterterrorism specialist, told attendees at AFA’s annual Air & Space Conference Sept. 25 that he has an option for dealing with Iran that avoided both fruitless diplomatic negotiations and a military air strike alternative. He argued that the Washington has made numerous diplomatic concessions, but there has been no diplomatic reciprocity by Tehran. And, Tanter said that although airmen would salute and say they could perform air strikes, air strikes would not work. Instead, he proposes effecting a regime change in Iran by “empowering the people,” by way of supporting the two main Iranian opposition groups, the National Council of Resistance to Iran, and the Mujahadeen el Khalq. Tanter acknowledged that his idea meets with stiff opposition from Washington, but he remains convinced that this is a viable alternative.
The Air Force is slashing all civilian positions at its premier research institute for Chinese military aviation, prompting concern among experts who say it will dilute the service’s focus on the Pentagon’s most significant long-term adversary.
