Queried by a reporter at the Pentagon yesterday about how the Army can continue its present and projected pace without more free use of reserve forces, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld replied: “There are a variety of things you can do. You can continue to do what we’re doing, moving military people out of civilian posts that civilians can occupy; you can use the Air Force and the Navy to a greater extent than they’ve been used.” Perhaps realizing what he had just said, Rumsfeld quickly added, “They’re leaning very far forward already and have done a terrific job in both Iraq and Afghanistan and in various other backup activities.” Yikes.
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.