Orlando, February 18, 2010—The “embedded partnership” strategy now being used by NATO’s International Security Assistance Force is clearly paying dividends, said Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, head of Combined Joint Task Force 82, headquartered at Bagram Air Base, speaking at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium. Scaparrotti said the cooperation has allowed his Regional Command East, which encompasses roughly a quarter of Afghanistan, to get a handle on insurgent activity in some significant zones. He noted, too, that civilians from areas around the now-Taliban-free zones want the same security. They now offer their support in driving out the Taliban, which helps spread security much like an expanding inkblot. Continue
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.