Mission possible: Secretary of Defense visits Elmendorf, Fort Greely.

• Author: Cutler, Debbie
• Position: MILITARY

In early June, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates held a town hall meeting on Elmendorf Air Force Base for about 300 military troops from Fort Richardson, Kulis Air National Guard Base and Elmendorf to address their concerns and needs before heading to Fort Greely, home of 1,500 military personnel and their families, to tour the state's Missile Defense Agency facilities there. Sen. Mark Begich was also in attendance.

The trip was timely as that day North Korea announced its plans to prepare for a long-range missile test, capable of reaching Alaska. North Korea recently tested a nuclear bomb and half a dozen or so short-range missiles.

Gates reception was peppered with questions from media about his $1.2 billion proposed cuts from the 2010 budget for the Missile Defense system. The cuts would allow for 30 new interceptor missiles in 2010 instead of the 44...