Why We Need the F-22

[waka]

Maybe McPeak should have thought about this before he supported Obama for President. The only real cuts you will see out of this administration will be in Defense. Just like Jimmy Carter. Makes a heck of a lot of sense. Budget cuts in Defense when we are at war.

Oh wait, I forgot. According to the Obama administration this isn't a war, its an Overseas Contingency Operation.......

They are correct. This is not a war.

 

[CitationLover]

It was the end of the "Cold War", there was a peace dividend to be reaped. Truman, Ike, and Nixon oversaw much bigger draw downs following WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

Of course, but the statement still holds merit. Cheney slashed DoD budgets following the Gulf War. The US has a history of rapid demobilization following major conflicts, I understand that. Clinton's peace dividend in the mid 90's was starting to actually show peace in the middle east and northern ireland, then extremist jews shot Rabin and the respective extremists won yet again.

The backers of the F-22 are stuck in a "Cold War" mentality regarding its existence beyond that which was already allocated, for that matter the B-2 also (in terms of maintaining its existence). Lockheed and Boeing are two of the biggest corporate welfare recipients of the federal government and its about time they stop taking us for a bath. Perhaps our leadership can listen to those who see us "maintaining the peace over the world" and can see the direct parallels to what the Romans did. Ours will fail similarly to what happened to Rome. The economics of such are simple now showing themselves.

And technically this isn't a war. Only congress can declare that. We haven't had that since the early 40's. The executive branch seems to have forgotten this since Truman strong armed them. Ron Paul was the only candidate to mention this during the campaigns.

 

[time builder]

Hi!

We need the F-22 to effectively maintain air superiority when we are fighting Britain???, France???, Switzerland???, India, or for sure Israel, since they have the best air-to-air Air Force.

Or, maybe we're going to invade Russia??? It shouldn't cost too much, and we have lots of spare cash laying around.

cliff
NBO

I was watching cable news the other day. Some high ranking military guy was pleading the case that Russia is selling Iran an anti-aircraft missile capable of shooting down anything in the US fleet except the F22.

Not necessarily my opinion, just passing it on "straight from the horse's mouth."

 

[JoeMhama]

OK fellas, Lets not forget that we still have 187 of these planes!!! Thats a whole lotta planes.

And who are we fightin right now?? The Taliban, Al Qaida??? They dont even have an airforce! And they never will.

Were gonna be just fine with our current fleet of aircraft!!!

 

[satpak77]

what a waste of money. How many UAV's can that money buy?

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

The AF is now rapidly buying new UAVs, and small, light-weight ground attack and transport aircraft. They are spending LOTS of money, just changing what they spend it on!!!

cliff
NBO

 

[pilotyip]

Next year the USAF will buy more unmanned A/C than manned A/C. Handwriting is on the wall for fighter and attack pilots. In the future you will man a console work an 8 hour shift blowing up things 10,000 miles away. In fact they are short of pilots for UAV right now and are thinking of calling up reserve pilots to fly the UAV's out of Creech

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Will USAF UAV "pilots" be enlisted or officer? Or will there be an officer overseeing multiple UAV enlisted operators...

 

[pilotyip]

Officers of course, they have not an E offically near the controls of something that flies in the USAF since 1945

 

[Mamma]

There is a beta program going on right now that is teaching non-rated officers to fly UAVs. The AF Academy is even setting up a UAV training program. Results should be interesting.