Dorgan Honored For Base Efforts

The Minot Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee held a special breakfast today to g...  More »

The Minot Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee held a special breakfast today to give Minot's mayor and others a chance to thank Senator Byron Dorgan for his work in retaining the Minot Air Force Base. Dorgan told the group the Minot Air Force Base has a strong position - especially considering the military's new committment to keeping 74, B-52 bombers in the fleet into the future. The Pentagon had wanted to cut that number in past years, but Dorgan was instrumental in keeping the level where it is. And he says the military now is thankful it has a full B-52 fleet. (Sen. Byron Dorgan, -D- ND) "We're going to need them now because the new bomber that was scheduled for 2018 is not going to be built by 2018. We're going to need to rely on that B-52. It's an old airplane and yet it's been upgraded so many times. It's what's called a bomb truck, it allows you to move all over the world with supplies and weapons. It's a very important adjunct to our military capability." Senator Dorgan announced in January this would be his last year in the Senate.  « Less