Betraying Our Troops

[Birdstrike]

So your saying screw the guy in the cockpit?

You talkin to me? Are you talking to Me?? Did I say screw the guy in the cockpit? Is going to war in an F-117, an F-18, or even an F-16 "screwing the guy in cockpit?" I don't think you can sell that anywhere except to the Air Force Chief of Staff. DOD won't buy it.

For years, the ground forces have taken a back seat to the air force in the only terms Washington understands - money. That's finally beginning to change. This year, the Army's % share of the DOD budget is increasing. The USAF still has the biggest slice, but the gap is narrowing. The Army's missions are expanding; their resources need to expand as well.

Give the ground puke what he needs, when he needs it, and as much as he needs. The Army isn't asking for the "F-22 equivalent" in modernization; we'll take the F-18 equivalent; we're that far behind, especially the Guard and Reserve. So you only get 183 F-22s instead of 300+. Somehow, I think the air force can still get it done while the Army plays catch up. And yes, it is a zero-sum game; the budget is what, a little under $450B and that's no open checkbook.

 

[GCD]

Maybe some money could be spent on the Army's FCA to get the beans and bullets to the troops.

 

[K-Mart]

K-Mart

Isn't it ironic, dontcha think?

Yeah.:laugh:

The point is we need an Air Force that can provide Air Superiority in any conceivable situation.

I agree but that is impossible in todays age, in this country. Not with baby boomers retiring (Huge loss of tax revenue) and this stupid war in Iraq.

Our current fighters won't last forever. Should we build new ones with 70s technology?[/QUOTE]
I agree with you. However, F-15/16's are nothing like they were technology wise from the 70's.

Dude, I wish I had a complete answer. It's all a matter of where to spend the dollars to manage the threat, whether it's happening now or covering any situation. Cost versus risk. The AF balked at buying terrain avoidance software on an unamed fighter. Why, becasue it was cheaper to lose a pilot than update every aircraft with this system. Sad but true. The same can be said about weapons systems, however throw in politics as the driving decision maker. Any thoughts??