The politically damaging public battles between the Air Force and its reserve components over funding and personnel seem to have subsided after a wave of budget compromises, integration initiatives and a report to Congress. Even though the dust has settled, it remains to be seen whether the service's leaders are comfortable handing over more responsibility to the Reserve and Air National Guard. The Air Force's efforts show that it is interested in doing more than paying lip service to the reserve components, said Russell Rumbaugh, director of the Stimson Center's budgeting for foreign affairs and defense program. "But it's one thing to say it, it's another thing to do it. The actual doing it requires addressing that basic political balance."
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