The Boeing tanker-lease controversy evidently no longer is a threat to confirmation of Michael Wynne as Air Force Secretary. That, at least, is the word from Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. According to Levin, Wynne appears likely to have clear sailing when he faces the panel, which is supposed to hold a hearing on his nomination today. The link between the tanker deal and Wynne was always a tenuous one, more smoke than substance, but some Senators had seized upon it as a club. Levin, one of the Senate’s most astute politicians, wryly told reporters at a private meeting on Wednesday, “Somehow, I’m under the impression that that’s no longer a problem.” Wynne would replace acting SECAF Pete Geren.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…