There Is More to the Story: In his last appearance with reporters as Air Force Secretary, Michael Wynne acknowledged that he and Defense Secretary Robert Gates disagreed on a variety of issues, including acquisition of the F-22 Raptor in sufficient numbers and the need to maintain the nation’s technological edge. It was those areas of disagreement, coupled with recent nuclear mission missteps, that prompted Gates to fire Wynne and Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley, said Wynne the day before his formal farewell ceremony (see above). Gates has called the penchant for senior military leaders to want to prepare for war with a potential peer enemy as “next-war-itis.” Wynne said Friday that he had argued with Gates and declared, “We need to maintain technological superiority over any enemy anywhere; I don’t want anyone to think … they can take us,” reported the Los Angeles Times. Gates has steadfastly maintained that only the nuclear weapons issue prompted his decision to oust the two Air Force leaders.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.