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 ramped up operations and maintenance spending to keep its F-35A fighters flying over the past six years, but readiness continues to lag behind goals, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.