FReeper help need please show support to keep Luke AFB open

http://lukeforward.com ^

[Kimmers]

I am asking you to send a letter of support in keeping Luke open for the F-35. The noise is such a small thing to contend with as the base contributes $ 2.17 billion each year to the AZ. economy, contract work worth millions of dollars each year and employs 8,000-plus. Immediate construction contracts of $125 million to $150 million. Arizona and the SW in general need this base and the pilots need the open space we offer. If you would send the info on to others in order to bring the F-35 to Luke. The sound of the F-35's is a very,very small price to pay for the freedom that the F-35 will bring to the USA. Go to www.lukeforward.com

http://lukeforward.com/#usermessagea

[deport]

I this base really needed ?

---

Good question.... Luke apparently is the training facility for the F-16 which is in the process of being phased out of time. The F-16 is to be replaced by the F-35. There are some 200 locations vying for the honor. So if they don’t get the F-35 it may well be shut down as not needed.

From an article in AZCentral....
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/10/14/20091014luke1015.html

snip
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and West Valley leaders on Wednesday launched a broad public campaign to have Luke Air Force Base named a training location for the new F-35 fighter jet.

The Glendale military installation is the world’s largest training base for the F-16 fighter, which is to be phased out by the F-35 in the coming years.

The stakes could hardly be higher: If the Defense Department
passes over Luke for the new fighter, Brewer warned that the base will “be probably closed down,” costing the state thousands of jobs and more than $2 billion a year in estimated economic impact.....

Luke is expected to be among 200 military bases considered for the F-35 on a preliminary list to be released shortly by the Pentagon.
end snips

[eyedigress]

Speaking of Sheriff Joe, that ole boy has created his own army the fed must deal with. (The army of law) LOL!

[eyedigress]

Proximity to the range will win. It is most valuable.

[deport]

Proximity to the range will win. It is most valuable.

---

I’d lean towards politics being the one that will win. I’m not sure that value as we would see it will be the most important. JMO.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

If people do not like noise from freedom-fighting aircraft. they should not live in houses near air stations. Simple fix. Move.

[Gay State Conservative]

If people do not like noise from freedom-fighting aircraft. they should not live in houses near air stations. Simple fix. Move.

I'm not complaining and neither is my sister.She's basically apolitical so has no strong feelings (that I know of) about the military...either positive or negative.And as for the noise,she says that you get used to it.As for me,I think it's kinda cool..especially on those rare occasions when I see fighter jets taking off.They,too,are LOUD.

If I wasn't pushing 60 and had a metal hip and a bad ticker this old Army desk jockey would be at the AF (or Navy) recruiting office saying..."I wanna fly one of those!".

[BlueMoose]

This may be part of the reason for the closure Politic plays a large part in where the military bases are. Sen Stevens has got bases for ALASKA for years. Keeping the bases was always a part of his reelection campaign. The members of Congress my not have power any more.

[BlueMoose]

Military bases are the biggest pork spending item in the budget. We must not close Camp Swampy or the Indians will take back FLA or I would vote for you nuke sub.

[saminfl]

Sorry. I am at Eglin AFB and we need the F-35 too.

[eyedigress]

Luke AFB is not something that is replaceable. Neither are the AK bases. It’s the lunatic fringe vs the ones who understand human traits.

[eyedigress]

Eglin will get their share of experimentation. Luke AFB is a pipeline for pilots to make it or wash. Eglin does not have that charge.

[BlueMoose]

I THOUGHT THE F-35 was scale back. this take can’t be done anywhere else ?

[eyedigress]

Anywhere else?

[BlueMoose]

The F-35’s can only fly at Luke?

[eyedigress]

Luke is a training base. They are NOT active. They are learning. Please understand that training and active is different. Guide yourself through the steps of your life. Fighter School is hard and everyone doesn’t make it. Yes, Luke is the place. Period.

[BlueMoose]

Ok they can only train at LUKE.
I read from the article that the reason the training must be at LUKE is if it's not then 8000 jobs will be lost not that it couldn't be done any where else. here is my problem I want to cut waste but not when it effects my job or jobs in my area. We need to cut spending in some one else's area. I need my Base to keep my job but yours is waste.

[eyedigress]

So you propose to take the mission from Luke and send it where?

[eyedigress]

The article has nothing to do with the mission. Capitalism is still America and business opening around the base is normal. Cities springing up around the base ia normal. What degree of understanding life are you currently in?

[BlueMoose]

I'm not proposing any thing. I trying to understand why LUKE needs to remain open. Is this base critical to any thing other than the local jobs. Now it may well be that it would be silly to move the mission. But all i have understood so fare is that the local job market would go down the drain. Sadly that is the problem we have with defense in this country. Defense decisions are being made on the local job market or who can get reelected. What needs to be addressed is if it can be done more efficient at LUKE.

[BlueMoose]

I understand the reality of life. Here it is military bases are used to reward or punish a Congressional district depending on it's support for the administration. Just the proposal that Luke is going to be closed tells me that the congressman's district doesn't support the administration. The argument is mad that it's mission could be done better some where else, maybe in a district that has a congressman that is more knowledgeable with the mission or has better weather or any thing else.