The North Dakota Congressional delegation doesn’t intend to let up in its drive to secure some of the Air Force’s new tanker aircraft, meeting again this week with key Air Force leaders. Sen. Kent Conrad (D) said the meetings “confirmed the Air Force’s desire to expand [the base’s] responsibility,” including exciting opportunities presented by the new [unmanned aerial vehicle] mission and the new tanker mission.” (The Air Force hasn’t yet publicly declared that Grand Forks will get the new tanker, but Conrad earlier said he had promises.) Sen. Byron Dorgan (D) also expressed confidence that the new UAV mission would secure a future for the base and claimed it had a “good shot” at getting tankers.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.