Hedging His Bets on the Missile Cuts: Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) has weighed in on the QDR-proposed Minuteman ICBM reductions, saying there will be “debate” over which missile base has to cut 50 ICBMs, but he, too, believes Malmstrom will be the loser. To offset that possibility, Burns is already working with the Air Force to reopen the base’s runway to set the stage for new missions. Burns says Air Force Secretary Mike Wynne told him an attributes study for the base is scheduled for March.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
