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Changed Security Environment Drives Combat Air Patrol Changes
Monday, March 18, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Defense officials said the cost of the combat air patrol program from Sept. 11 through the end of January was slightly over $500 million.

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
A "vastly changed security environment" is behind proposed changes to the combat air patrols of Operation Noble Eagle, Defense Department officials said today.

"What we are looking at is a different mix of combat air patrols, strip alerts and those sorts of things that will change and adapt as circumstances change and adapt," said Pentagon spokeswoman Torie Clark.

Clark stressed the plan is not yet finished, but defense officials were compelled to consider changes that have been put in place since the Sept. 11 attacks. She said the new federal Office of Homeland Security now coordinates many aspects of protection. This includes better security at airports and things like hardened cockpit doors.

"The overall picture is changing, and it is appropriate to take a look at the combat air patrol and say, 'What's appropriate at different times?'" she said.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Dan