In the Bekka Valley of Lebanon, the Israeli Air Force overcomes the long-standing combat advantage of surface-to-air missiles, destroying 19 SAMs with no losses. In the follow-up action, the Israelis shoot down 82 Syrian MiGs without losing any of their own fighters.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…