Other than increase in UAVs, which the Army and Air Force split, what can the Air Force do more of? I would assume they are doing a good job providing close in air support and transport. What does Gates want? The Air Force does need new planes really bad and this is a great time for them to be upgrading with no major air war to fight. Does SecDef expect them to wait until they need the F-22s and F-35s to all of the sudden order them?
The trouble is the Bush admin has never been willing to pay the cost of fighting the current wars and upgrading ALL the services and incresing enlistment after the 10 year procurement holiday and force reductions following the end of the Cold War.
If they think the WOT is hard now, try doing it without air supremacy.
The AF is simply focusing on future threats, while the SecDef is focusing on current battles. If the admin were really concerned, it would spend the money needed (instead of the bull--t tax refunds we just got) and consider some really radical reform, like giving the Army its own fixed wing and UAV support back, just like the Marines.