Reports are now indicating that the United States has placed Bombers within striking distance of China and North Korea in the midst of ongoing tensions with the two Nations. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Air Force announced it had sent its B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to join older, non-stealthy B-52 Stratofortresses and B-1 Lancers on Guam. It’s an extraordinary show of force in the Pacific region, because for the first time ever,
America has based all three heavy bomber types on the island at once. Deborah Lee James, the Air Force secretary, described the deployments as providing a “valuable opportunity for our bomber crews to integrate and train together, as well as with our allies and partners through the region in a variety of missions.” But James did not elaborate on just how unusual the arrangement actually is, nor did she expand on any deeper possible reasons for basing Spirits, Lancers, and Stratofortresses at the same base at same time — all within striking distance of China and North Korea. CONTINUE
