[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Yanks to fly over Africa

[Patrick Bond]

(I think the imperialists' unsuccessful efforts to locate the Africa 
Command on the continent - hence the Stuttgart base continues - requires 
now a flying force for those 30 000 feet bomb drops.)

To: Stop NATO
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 10:48 AM
Subject: [stopnato] US To Revive Air Force Command For New Africa Operations


http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50888

Stars and Stripes
December 11, 2007

17th AF to be revived for Africa Command duty
By Scott Schonauer

-The new command is estimated to include 300 airmen.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - The Air Force plans to
resurrect its historic 17th Air Force to become the
assigned unit for airmen serving in the Pentagon's new
Africa Command.

U.S. Air Forces Europe headquarters, based at
Ramstein, formed a transition team to develop its
newest numbered command, Capt. Greg Hignite said
Monday. The team had its first meeting less than two
months ago.

The history of the 17th dates to the 1950s when it was
based in Morocco.

Africa Command is a new regional command that will
eventually oversee U.S. military operations on the
continent.

While some of the details on the 17th's command are
still being worked out, it will be led by a two-star
general and a one-star vice commander, Hignite said.
Both officers have not been named.

The new command is estimated to include 300 airmen.

Half of the airmen will serve on the headquarters
staff, while the rest will make up an air operations
center.

The transition team, which includes about a dozen
people from USAFE headquarters, has set a goal of
establishing initial operations by October next year.

The 17th won't reach "full operational capability"
until October 2009.

In addition, the Air Force has shuffled some general
officers to new positions throughout Europe.

Brig. Gen. Michael Snodgrass, the director of USAFE
Plans, Programs and Analyses, has been reassigned to
be chief of staff of U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart.
Snodgrass arrived at USAFE in May 2005.

Brig. Gen. Richard Johnston, commander of the 86th
Airlift Wing and Kaiserslautern Military Community,
has been reassigned to be USAFE's director of plans
and programs. Col. William J. Bender, executive
officer to the deputy commander, U.S. European
Command, will take his place at a change-of-command
ceremony Dec. 19.