Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) released a statement commending the Pentagon for its plan to construct 191 new family housing units at Whiteman Air Force Base near Knob Knoster and to make improvements to barracks at Ft. Leonard Wood. For the Whiteman project, Skelton, who heads the House Armed Services Committee, said the Pentagon would “dedicate an additional $37.5 million to build 191 new housing units and demolish 200 old housing units.” That is on top of a previously appropriated $74.6 million for Whiteman’s new housing project, he added. Skelton declared, “It has long been my goal to make Whiteman Air Force Base and Ft. Leonard Wood the premier military installations in the United States.”
The U.S. is moving to surge firepower over Iran, including its capital of Tehran, defense officials leading the campaign said March 5 at U.S. Central Command headquarters. Bomber strikes are being stepped up and additional fighter squadrons are being deployed.