Article

2014-03-13 Government

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2014-03-13 11:44|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 The five-year scheme retires all of the roughly 340 A-10 Warthog attack jets in the active Air Force, Air Force Reserve and state-controlled Air National Guard. The Warthogs account for the majority of the planned warplane cuts.

I think I've seen this movie.

Posted by Bobby 2014-03-13 12:46|| 2014-03-13 12:46|| Front Page Top

#2 a smaller and more capable force.

More capable of what?

I saw this movie too, Bobby. IIRC those A-10s turned out to be needed after all.

Posted by AlanC 2014-03-13 13:04|| 2014-03-13 13:04|| Front Page Top

#3 Last time they did cuts when I was in the Army (1993) the mantra was "No more Task Force Smiths"

Well, that didn't work too well as the peace keeping forces deployed by Clinton found out later and the early days of 9/11.

I expect the same pattern to happen this time too.

Posted by DarthVader 2014-03-13 13:12|| 2014-03-13 13:12|| Front Page Top

#4 Give 'em to Ukraine with the same payment terms Hezbollah pays for its SMERCHes with.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2014-03-13 13:45|| 2014-03-13 13:45|| Front Page Top

#5 The Air Force Plays the politics well. They have career political officers in DC. They know well that the term ground support is where the dollars flow. So the F35 was a ground support aircraft marketed to congress as easily modded for both ground and air superiority. Reality is something different. The F16 was initially sold to support ground troops. Turns out not really the truth also, that is unless your idea is in 500 pound bombs and slow response with no real station time. They tried to rid themselves of the ground support mission in the late 80's and give the A10 to the Army. Transition planning was mid stride when desert storm kicked off and the A10 was a hero of the war, meaning lots of kudos for generals and money for pet programs. With the loser in chief as president, dingy and the cry baby running the houses I think they will finally, through slight of hand, rid themselves of that nasty support role to ground troops and stick to air superiority only.

And remember its only another $10 million per F35 to upgrade for ground support.... What a deal.

Posted by 49 Pan 2014-03-13 14:16|| 2014-03-13 14:16|| Front Page Top

#6 My last point, Darth, TF Smith is alive and well. The Air Force will say the Army outstretched is security capability. Not their fault....

Posted by 49 Pan 2014-03-13 14:18|| 2014-03-13 14:18|| Front Page Top

#7 Wish I could buy one of the surplus A-10's.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2014-03-13 16:15|| 2014-03-13 16:15|| Front Page Top

#8 DB, need any help with targeting assignments?

Posted by AlanC 2014-03-13 16:27|| 2014-03-13 16:27|| Front Page Top

#9 Already gave'em to china, Thing.

Posted by Skidmark 2014-03-13 17:24|| 2014-03-13 17:24|| Front Page Top

#10 Expect them to be back in play following the mid term elections.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2014-03-13 18:48|| 2014-03-13 18:48|| Front Page Top

#11 Believe the A-10s were all moved to the Guard and Reserve Units many years ago. They were considered career wreckers, for active duty pilots. When I was stationed in the UK, saw one auger in at an airshow. The problem with close ground support, is the ground. Sadly the pilot didn't survive.

Bye the way, that is an terrible random name assignment.

Posted by Bugs Hitler6550 2014-03-13 19:56|| 2014-03-13 19:56|| Front Page Top

#12 See also FREEREPUBLIC > [The Hill] OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: US ARMY CUTTING COMBAT BRIGADES.

FYI ditto wid the Brits ...

* VOICE OF RUSSIA > UK ARMY CUTS MAY LEAVE ARMY UNABLE TO HANDLE [major or any] THREATS - LAWMAKERS.

Unless something changes, post-9-11/GWOT OWG Amerika W-I-L-L, NOT M-I-G-H-T, IN FUTURE TIME HAVE TO DE FACTO RELY ON OWG CO-SUPERPOWERS RISING IRAN + RISING CHINA, ...@ETAL, FOR ITS GEOPOL + NUCLEAR SECURITY.

Again, Rising Iran + Rising China, etal. cannot be same unless the Sole Superpower USA + Other Great Powers unilaterally give up saidsame Power-n-Influence, + maybe a few or number of overseas Territories + Regions, so that Iran + China, etal. can "rise" to "parity" in OWG Globalist goodness.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2014-03-13 22:37|| 2014-03-13 22:37|| Front Page Top

#13 They'll use it to force development and procurement of another plane.

Posted by gorb 2014-03-13 23:26|| 2014-03-13 23:26|| Front Page Top

23:29 gorb
23:27 SteveS
23:26 gorb
23:19 Zenobia Floger6220
22:58 Frank G
22:55 Classical_Liberal
22:37 JosephMendiola
22:29 Glenmore
22:28 JosephMendiola
22:24 Frank G
22:22 Frank G
22:19 Don Vito
22:01 Frank G
21:42 Frank G
21:39 Barbara
21:37 Frank G
21:35 Barbara
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20:40 Frank G
20:38 Beavis
20:06 Glenmore
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20:03 Bugs Hitler6550