WITH AFGHANISTAN OFF-LIMITS, US HUNTS FOR SAFE AIRSPACE AS MIDEAST MISSION CONTINUES

摘要

The U.S. Air Force has been in the Middle East for more than three decades, and even the end of the Afghanistan War likely won't mean a major drawdown in the region. While the service has adjusted its posture - such as bringing home EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare planes for the first time in 20 years -retired Gen. Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle does not expect a radical rebalancing of air power assets in the Middle East.