Speaking during a visit to Germany for a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld urged NATO countries to continue backing up and expanding their presence in Afghanistan. NATO troops have taken over security in northern and western Afghanistan, and by 2006 US officials believe they could take over in the less-settled southern part of the country. British Defense Minister John Reid agreed, saying NATO must have more than “paper forces.”
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
