Gen. Paul Hester, commander of Pacific Air Forces, believes North Korea can be persuaded to stop developing nuclear weapons, according to Associated Press news service. Hester told AP that “there are many opportunities to change actions by a country and a regime without the demise of that regime. … Can [Kim Jong Il] change? I suspect that yes, he could change. Whether he would change is yet another question.” Hester spoke with AP during a visit to Harvard University on Oct. 17.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…