[Rokke]

"The USAF never did care much for close air support. They preferred the fighter and bomber roles. They ditched the A-10 Warthog as soon as they could. (They tried to ditch it before the first Gulf War.) The Army and Marines couldn't count on the Air Force for close air, and that's why they have Apaches and Harriers respectively. Now, we have a war where close air is needed and the Air Force has little that can deliver."

Your whole post is so full of crap my entire monitor just turned brown.

A. The A-10 is now performing CAS in exactly the same way every other combat aircraft (F-14/15/16/18, B-1/52, AC-130) performs CAS. From medium altitude using precision guided munitions. That's because the best way to employ CAS has changed since the 1960's. Unfortunately, too many dinosaurs who no longer fly CAS missions (or have never flown CAS missions) can't move from the era of Jane Fonda.

B.The Apache was never designed or purchased to be a CAS platform. The Marine Corps uses its rotary wing aircraft as CAS platforms. The Army intends its rotary wing aircraft to be used as deep strike and anti-armor.

C. More CAS sorties have been flown by USAF aircraft than any other service. Every single combat aircraft in the Air Force inventory now performs CAS with the exception of the B-2 and F-117. The CAS weapon of choice amongst the Army and Marine Corps is USAF AC-130's. In the meantime, the Marine Corps (who is the service that knows THE most about CAS) is phasing out its AV-8B's and relying entirely on the F-18. Amazingly (sarcasm on), the F-18 shares exactly the same capabilities as the USAF F-16 and is employed in precisely the same way. In the meantime, not a single A-10 currently operates in Iraq, because despite being an incredibly capable aircraft, they just aren't needed for the almost entirely CAS missions currently being flown in Iraq.

[GBA]

"...not a single A-10 currently operates in Iraq, because despite being an incredibly capable aircraft, they just aren't needed for the almost entirely CAS missions currently being flown in Iraq."

I believe you, but I don't understand it. I figure if you've got it, flaunt it and the A-10 in the CAS role seems like a good fit for Iraq. Has the situation moved beyond the need for the A-10? Is the CAS role now handled by Predators alone? Is the A-10 too slow for the mission?

[A.A. Cunningham]

Your whole post is so full of crap

You can use those same words to describe your post.

In the meantime, the Marine Corps (who is the service that knows THE most about CAS) is phasing out its AV-8B's and relying entirely on the F-18.

Incorrect. Harrier squadrons are currently deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Harriers will be in the FMF for a long time to come. You should spend more time at Cherry Point, Yuma, Iwakuni, Futenma and with the MEUs before flapping your gums.