Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Wednesday morning withdrew the measure they had crafted earlier this week in an attempt to thwart the addition of more F-22s in the Fiscal 2010 defense policy bill. According to various news reports, Levin said it was a temporary withdrawal. The Senate Armed Services Committee as a whole passed its markup of the bill with seven additional Raptors over the objections of chairman Levin and ranking minority member McCain. Levin pulled the no-more F-22s amendment when he couldn’t get agreement on a time to vote on the measure, reports The Hill. The Senate is still working on the defense bill. The House passed its version last month, with additional F-22s.
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…