[Scanian]

I'm not sure what to think about this project. I'm looking forward to Freeper input.

[Pontiac]

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. He told The Washington Times that Mr. Obama will follow through on his threat to veto any bill that restores money for the fighter, and said the White House considers this battle to be the first test of Mr. Obama's vow to begin holding the line on spending.

The perfect tool to kill the Stimulus II bill.

Add a rider to fund the F-22.

[GeronL]

Obama is trying to send our military backwards. our economy too.

He is not on our side.

[rlmorel]

"...the first major test of its efforts to curb runaway spending and slash unneeded projects..."

I am speechless here.

These.

People.

Are.

Completely.

Insane.

[rlmorel]

Scanian, here is what to think about this:

We depend on air superiority for the success of our armed forces. For our ground troops, our ships at sea, and nearly every single thing you can relate to.

We have been spoiled, because we have had adults in charge most of the time who understood this necessity, and worked towards maintaining it. We have had air superiority in every single engagement of any kind from the end of WWII up until today.

If we do not maintain control of the skies and cede that to our next enemy, we will see American blood shed in ways we have not seen since WWII.

We won’t be able to supply and transport our troops by air. Helicopters are sitting ducks for the enemy if they control the air. We won’t even be able to medevac.

Our supply columns will be destroyed, as will our tank formations. Our ships at sea will suffer the same fate.

In the same way that nearly the entire food chain from livestock down to corn is dependent on water, military power is dependent on air power. Without it, you cannot have and project military power.

It is really that simple, and it is why we must buy more F-22s and F-35’s. But we know that isn’t going to happen, the same way we know that transiting this economic and leadership crisis unscathed isn’t going to happen.

[wita]

Hmmmmm?

Old: F-15 441 or so aircraft in inventory
Old: F-16 1200 or so aircraft in inventory.
approximate total 1641

New: F-22 total build 187 to replace F-15
New: F-35 to replace F-16 and Navy aircraft
desired 2,400 or so. Good luck with that number.

Quote from unnamed official: The Air Force has to at least get one point across, the official said: “If you can’t support us on 381, don’t make a premature decision to close the production line, because if you close the line, you’ve forestalled any other options.”

Other folks may have more up to date info.

[LibLieSlayer]

If hussein is against it... I AM FOR IT!

LLS

[Lucky Dog]

You have to ask a few basic questions: What are the most basic functions of government?

The Constitution of the United States of America

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. [emphasis added]

If the current government will not (notice the argument was never "can not") meet those minimum requirements what is the alternative?

... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness... [emphasis added]

Now where does stopping the buy of new fighters at 187 and canceling any more of those new fighters intended to replace many hundreds that are 40 years old (and will be much older before any possible replacements are available) sound like it fits into your answers?

[LuxMaker]

All of those in the military or who have served who voted for Zero deserve exactly what they are going to get.

[Rappini]

Hussien wants the Ruskies and the Chicoms Aviation Technology to catch up to the US.

[jpsb]

Gate's thinking seems to be that the USA will be fighting terrorists or other low intensity conflicts and not first world nations. Ergo, the F22, which is a very expensive air superiority weapon is unnessccesry. If he is correct and we have nothing to worry about from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Cuba, North Korea, etc. then cool, cancel the F22. However, IMHO, that is a very dangerious gamble and there will be no substitute for the F22 should we find ourselves in need of it. Think of Germany, late 1944 and the Mesurmit (jet fighter)