U.S.: Fighter exercise not a show of force

By Ashley Rowland, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Thursday, June 19, 2007 KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — A massive exercise at Kunsan Air Base that includes 90 aircraft and more than 450 airmen from around the world isn’t meant to be a show of force toward North Korea, but it could have that unintended effect, a top U.S. Air Force official said Tuesday. "In any way, if we are contributing to the security and stability of what goes on in the region, we’re more than happy to do that," said Gen. Howie Chandler, commander of the Pacific Air Command in Hawaii. North Korea frequently characterizes military exercises in South Korea as threats against its security, despite official assurances to the contrary. Chandler spoke briefly to about 60 media members visiting the remote base on the first day of flying during the weeklong... [read full story]