February3, 2007: While the United States uses commercial carriers for moving most of its air freight to Iraq, it also moves much of it out of one air base, in Charleston, South Carolina, using military transports. Every day, about 180 tons of cargo goes from Charleston to Iraq. The Charleston operation primarily uses Boeing 747 freighters and military C-17s. Much of the stuff moved through Charleston is needed overseas in a hurry. The fastest delivery is 17 hours, but many flights land in Europe or Turkey first. Thus parts, equipment, or people who have to get to Iraq in a hurry, go to Charleston first.