Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (ACCNS) -- The more things change in Southwest Asia, the more they stay the same.

That's the word from Maj. Gen. Gene Renuart Jr., Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia commander.

He said while the Expeditionary Aerospace Force construct has changed the way units are deployed into the region, the mission is still very much the same.

"The EAF has been a major adjustment for us in Southwest Asia, but I think it's all been a change for the positive," General Renuart said. "The concept was implemented to put some predictability into the high ops tempo that all of our people have. EAF is now beginning to bear that fruit."

Eight of the 10 Aerospace Expeditionary Force units in the 15-month rotation have been deployed so far in the EAF's first cycle. Looking back, General Renuart said the Air Force has come a long way.

"Is it a success? A qualified yes," he said. "Qualified because we are still really working out the very significant details that it takes to make this work smoothly."

The general said the initial implementation had some lessons learned and those problems were fixed in succeeding rotations.

"We're now preparing for AEF 9 and I think it will be at 90-95 percent solution rate," he said. "We've come from about a 60-percent rate on AEF 5, to about a 75-percent rate with AEF 7. After AEF 9, I think we can stand up to our people and say it's up and running and all the major bugs are worked out."

General Renuart said the EAF has done great things, especially for the quality of life for Air Force people who make up the AEFs.

"People now have the ability to see into the future and know that during a certain window they are committed to one of the contingency areas," he said. "They know they can plan leave, family activities or TDYs (temporary duty assignments) to school -- all of these things that were so difficult under the lack of a system that we had prior to EAF."

While the EAF construct has helped improve quality of life for people before and after they deploy, quality of life improvements are abundant at the deployed locations as well.

"The quality of life across the theater has made great strides," he said. "The dorms at PSAB (Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia) are the keystone of great quality of life."

There is an expansion planned for the fitness center facilities and theater at PSAB, but that's just the tip of the iceberg, the general said.

"At Al-Jaber AB, we're making great progress in moving everyone out of tents. We'll begin construction in Ali Al-Salem in the next few months that will also move people out of tents," he said. "At our three major locations, we'll be making tents a memory and not a reality."

Changes in how people deploy to SWA and how they live there are many, but one thing has stayed the same - the mission.

"We've had almost 500 events of AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) firing at our aircraft since Desert Fox," he said. "While Saddam (Hussein) has not been going through the large scale threats to Kuwait or other nations in the region, he continues to be aggressive, challenges us in the no-fly zone and continues to publicly declare that he will shoot down a coalition aircraft."

General Renuart added that until President Hussein complies with United Nations' sanctions, the mission would remain the same.

"The no-fly zone, the U.N. sanctions and the presence of the coalition are all mandates of the international community," he said. "That community, through the U.N., has said that until he complies with the provisions of the cease fire and proves he no longer has the capability to produce weapons of mass destruction, the sanctions will remain in effect. Those reasons are our missions."

The stability of the region is also a reason for U.S. presence in the Gulf. "Leaders of the Gulf region nations feel great value in having the coalition forces in the region providing security," General Renuart said. "Until we see a resolution of the Iraqi situation, the coalition must remain strong and in place. Once there is a resolution, I think there will still be a long-term value in Western presence in the region for stability."

General Renuart also said Hussein is still looking for media exposure and would love to shoot down an airplane to get it.

"I think that one of Hussein's principal goals is to be able to say he has downed a coalition aircraft," he said. "Most desirous to him is to be able to capture a crew member and parade him around in front of CNN. Saddam Hussein is a thug."

Keeping pilots and aircrews safe is important, but equally important is the safety of the people on the ground, General Renuart said.

"I'm more comfortable and confident now than ever in our force protection measures," he said. "We have created a force protection environment that's better than it ever was during the period of time during the Khobar Towers bombing."

Bases in the region have expanded their technological means of providing security with state-of-the-art equipment. They have improved their anti-mobility force protection measures and vehicle search procedures.

"If you look at any of the factors that may have been involved in Khobar towers, we are three or four generations ahead (of where) we were then," General Renuart said.

While the general said they cannot make every environment invulnerable, what they can do is make it as difficult as possible for bad guys to win.

"The environment is as good as any mom would want it for her child, but the thing we have to fight against is complacency," he said. "When we let down our guard, some potential terrorists or other organization may choose to pick up the momentum.

"We consistently study counter terrorist and intelligence information to ensure we have the most up to date data available on the threats that may be out there. We adjust our force protecting measures routinely to ensure we meet whatever threats may arise."