Congressional Research Service says that Congress has given only “a mixed reception” to the concept of deploying some long range ballistic missiles in a conventional mode. Even so, both the Air Force and the Navy, urged on by the Administration, have studied concepts and technologies for doing so. The Air Force budget request for 2006 contains funding for its efforts. The Pentagon sees conventional ballistic missiles as key to its new prompt global strike mission.
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.