U.S. Military increasingly using air lifts (AP spin: good news from Iraq) [View All]

[Barrett808]

U.S. Military increasingly using air lifts
By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press Writer
Thu Aug 3, 3:55 AM ET

CAMP ANACONDA, Iraq - The U.S. military is increasingly using air lifts instead of ground convoys to resupply troops to avoid the deadly roadside bombs that remain a major killer of American soldiers after more than three years of war.

The 3rd Corps Support Command, which supplies units throughout the country, has made air shipment its No. 1 priority since arriving last October at Camp Anaconda, 50 miles north of Baghdad.

"When we first got here, all of our stuff was shipped out by ground," said 1st Lt. Ted Mataxis, 29, of Raleigh, N.C., whose unit is responsible for assembling Humvee tires, engines and other repair parts for air transport.

Now "we're sending the majority of our stuff by air," he said. "The only stuff that goes out by ground are the big, bulky items."

In October, the command moved about 6,500 pallets — the platform that items are loaded onto — by air each month. The monthly figure now stands at about 16,000.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060803/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_air_convoys