Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) criticizes a recent Washington Post article on the Air Force’s airlift situation, writing in a letter to that newspaper that the Congressional effort to procure additional C-17s is “not an attempt to resurrect a ‘pet project.’ ” (We reported on this Post article earlier.) In his letter to the editor, Saxton criticizes the Bush Administration for not “realistically planning for future airlift requirements” and criticizes Congress for “parochial interests” that delayed C-5 retirements. Saxton favors buying additional C-17s and letting the Air Force decide when to retire old aircraft.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.