U.S. Transportation Command and the Air Force have started tasking forward-based C-130 cargo haulers to conduct Army direct-support missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, senior Pentagon officials told lawmakers today. Both Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of U.S. Forces-Iraq, and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, have approved the plan to use up to 40 C-130 Hercules aircraft for the direct-support mission, Lt. Gen. Philip Breedlove, Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations,...
