Despite grave
concerns being expressed about impending budget cuts, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz urged attendees at the Air Force Association’s Air & Space Conference at National Harbor, Md., near Washington, D.C., not to be too downbeat. “This is not a time to despair,” he said at Wednesday’s Four-Star Forum. “We’re still going to be a $100 billion Air Force and we can do a hell of a lot with that,” declared Schwartz, who has served as USAF’s top uniformed official since August 2008.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…