France, Germany, and Spain rejected the argument by US and British defense chiefs that it is time for NATO to step in and relieve US forces of some counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan. (DR, 9/15/05) At a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Rumsfeld expressed the belief that NATO, at some point, could take over fighting insurgents in Afghanistan. The allies do plan to extend their peacekeeping role, but plans to merge command of the NATO mission and the US/coalition mission may be up a creek, as well.
Lt. Gen. Stephen L. Davis, the Department of the Air Force’s top internal watchdog, has been nominated to lead Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the service’s bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles.