President Bush nominated Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute to tackle the role of czar for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lute currently serves at the Joint Staff director of operations. His actual title would be assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan, if he wins Senate confirmation. As the President describes the job, Lute would make certain that US Central Command boss Adm. William Fallon and commanders in Afghanistan and Iraq get what they need “quickly and reliably.” Bush had approached some retired officers to take the post, but they declined.
Air Force F-16s from Germany Deploy to Middle East
Oct. 27, 2024
As tensions spiral in the Middle East, U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from Germany have flown to the region, U.S. Central Command said Oct. 25. The F-16s are from the 480th Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and represent some of the service’s most advanced models.