Pentagon leaders officially end the US military mission in Iraq. Nearly 4,500 US military personnel were killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom (March 19, 2003 – Aug. 31, 2010) and the follow-on Operation New Dawn (Aug. 31, 2010 – Dec. 15, 2011) and more than 32,000 were wounded. (The last US troops left Iraq Dec. 18, 2011.)
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…