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The Pentagon plans to dispatch the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds in a multi-city effort to "champion national unity" amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to defense officials and a memo I obtained today. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2020/04/22/pentagon-plans-dispatch-blue-angels-thunderbirds-coronavirus-response/
The mission -- Operation America Strong -- was conceived by senior military officers and is meant to be a nonpartisan show of resolve, a senior U.S. military official said.
It was briefed to congressional staffers in an attempt to limit political backlash, another official says.
It was briefed to congressional staffers in an attempt to limit political backlash, another official says.
For the record: I have no idea why the Navy told @erinK_mccarthy of the @PhillyInquirer that this isn't happening. Only thing remaining is service secretary approval, senior mil official tells me. Perhaps me obtaining the memo prompted disclosure. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/blue-angels-philadelphia-flyover-thunderbirds-navy-air-force-coronavirus-20200422.html
Some help from @seungminkim here: We're told that both Republicans and Democrats in the SASC received notification. That's very much SECDEF's style, so not a surprise so much as affirmation that notifications are moving.
