Chuck Hagel on farewell tour to thank the troops
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel opened a farewell tour of U.S. military bases Tuesday at the home of one of the premier symbols of America’s global military reach, the B-2 stealth bomber.
Just weeks before ending his two-year tenure as Pentagon chief, Hagel flew to this air base in western Missouri to thank troops for their service and highlight his support for the planned development of a new generation of long-range nuclear-capable bombers. The tour comes as Hagel prepares to turn over his duties to his nominated successor, Ashton Carter. Carter is expected to be confirmed by the Senate sometime in February.
Hagel was getting a firsthand look at the bat-winged B-2 and holding a town hall-style session with a few hundred airmen before flying to California to visit Marine Corps aviators.
Speaking to a few hundred airmen inside an aircraft hangar and flanked by T-38 trainer planes, Hagel said the B-2 fleet plays an essential role in deterring nuclear war.
“It’s about strategic deterrence so that we don’t have to send our men and women into conflict,” he said.
He said he has kept his focus on ensuring that the US military does not fall behind in technology in spite of tighter budgets.
