Secretary Gates praises Air Force for support of war on terrorism

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WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  During a press conference April 23 at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates recommended Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, currently commander of Multinational Force Iraq, to be the next U.S. Central Command commander.

It was at this press conference that a reporter asked him about what the media have perceived as a dig at the Air Force during a speech April 21 at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and what he was really trying to convey.

Secretary Gates told the reporter that a "significant part of the speech was full of praise for what the Air Force has done in the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan and the whole theater.

"The C-17 takes the equivalent of 5,000 trucks a month off the road," Secretary Gates stressed. "The Air Force has total control of the air." 

He also praised Airmen for their medical evacuation missions.

What some sensed as a jab at the Air Force was Secretary Gates expressing frustration about the perceived foot-dragging by all services in getting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Because of the delays, Secretary Gates announced that he had established a task force to push the issue to the front burner.

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