Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) criticizes a recent Washington Post article on the Air Force’s airlift situation, writing in a letter to that newspaper that the Congressional effort to procure additional C-17s is “not an attempt to resurrect a ‘pet project.’ ” (We reported on this Post article earlier.) In his letter to the editor, Saxton criticizes the Bush Administration for not “realistically planning for future airlift requirements” and criticizes Congress for “parochial interests” that delayed C-5 retirements. Saxton favors buying additional C-17s and letting the Air Force decide when to retire old aircraft.
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…
