To reduce the exposure of ground troops in Iraq, the Air Force has been flying more and more people and gear that otherwise would travel by truck convoy. Gen. Michael Moseley, Air Force Chief of Staff, told Pentagon reporters yesterday that “100 percent of what can fly has been off the road since September [2006].” That’s a lot of cargo and a lot of people. In the peak month, Moseley said USAF flew 9,000 troops who otherwise would have gone by convoy; the load averages about 4,500 people a month.
We looked back on the past 12 months to find the stories that resonated the most with you, our audience, and these 10 topped the list. Maybe you missed one the first time around, or perhaps you’d like to revisit a favorite.