With far less fanfare than greeted the kickoff of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process back in May, the final recommendations of the BRAC commission became law, when Congress failed to reject the list within 45 days after lawmakers received the package from President Bush. DOD can now begin closing and realigning 22 major bases and 33 other large facilities across the country.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…