Reposted by Chris Newfield
1) Alito revealing this now is an attempt to rally Republicans in Trump states where Dems lead for Senate.
2) He’s the most partisan R on the court—highly likely he steps down in the lame duck if Dems take the Senate.
3) Doing number 2) makes court expansion even more likely if Dems win in 2028
![U.S. BASING AND DISPOSITION
USCENTCOM reported that it designed its force distribution for OEF to sustain combat
power while considering taking into account Iranian ballistic missiles, one-way unmanned
aircraft systems (OWUAS), and maritime threats.77 During OEF, USCENTCOM shifted
personnel, assets, and storage facilities as locations came under Iranian and proxy attacks.78
USCENTCOM said that it constantly evaluated the threat to base and force locations as
the threat level evolved throughout the campaign, and adjusted counter-UAS and other air
defense assets’ location, placement, and posture based on that assessment. USCENTCOM
convened decision boards to provide recommendations to the air defense commander for the
appropriate adjustments.79
The Office for the Undersecretary of War for Policy (OUSW[P]) said that partners in the
Middle East and Europe provided significant access, basing, and overflight permission to
execute OEF.80 U.S. Forces flew as many as 5,000 sorties in support of OEF from European
bases, according to the NATO Secretary-General.81
SIDEBAR:
U.S. Forces flew
as many as
5,000 sorties in
support of OEF
from European
bases, according
to the NATO
SecretaryGeneral.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreiagj6zq3kskzvp2knkanqkzie2sbyxomisghox5cvaoy4agkr52fi)
