Gen. Tom Hobbins, head of US Air Forces in Europe, is not at all worried that his command has dropped some 600 fighters and nearly 50,000 personnel since the 1990s. The Daily Press of Hampton Roads, Va., reports that, during a stop at Langley AFB, Va., on Monday, Hobbins said that the USAFE reductions are offset, in part, by the growth of NATO, which has increased from 16 to 26 countries.
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…