Allowing the AF to do its own thing is just dismissing the fact that it is a rogue service to do what it wants to do. If it wants to do a mission it will with enthusiasm and sense of mission. If it finds a mission ‘distasteful’ it won’t do it. That doesn’t work in a professional military. The AF is in some ways behaving like a disobedient 10 year old where strong parenting is required. It would appear that some of the upper levels of AF command are behaving like 10 year olds. If the SecAF won’t correct the problem, which the recently passed secretary failed to do and it would appear that the current secretary is no better, then it is the unfortunate duty of the SecDef to dismiss this ‘children.’ Secretary Mattis is a no nonsense leader and is the person to do it one way or the other.