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Did Politics Keep the F-22 Out of Libya?
DoD Buzz ^ | April 4, 2011 | John Reed

Posted on 04/04/2011 4:13:16 PM PDT by EnjoyingLife

"Former Air Force ISR chief, Lt. Gen. David Deptula, just isn't buying the explanation given by Air Force leaders last week that distance is what kept the F-22 Raptor out of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

"Instead, political reasons likely kept the most advanced jet on Earth out of the fight, according to Deptula, an early advocate of using the jet to enforce the no-fly zone in Libya. Basically, the F-22's stealth would have negated much of the official need for coalition help since the jet is almost completely immune to Libya's ancient air defenses..."




USAF B-2 Sprit and USAF F-22A Raptors over Andersen AFB in Guam, USA. Via.

(Excerpt) Read more at dodbuzz.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: f22; f22a; libya; raptor

1 posted on 04/04/2011 4:13:24 PM PDT by EnjoyingLife
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To: EnjoyingLife

the f-22 had no use in Libya, the downside was too great. The expence and time to get them in theater would have been more then the cost of the old tomahawks.


2 posted on 04/04/2011 4:18:31 PM PDT by waynesa98
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To: EnjoyingLife

Apparently even the Rafale is immune to Libya’s defenses too.


3 posted on 04/04/2011 4:18:54 PM PDT by omega4179 (No war for Brotherhood.)
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To: EnjoyingLife

Three reasons: 1. NATO doesn’t have the technology in place to deal with the F-22.

2. The F-22 could become exposed without using everything available to “it”.

3. The loss of an F-22 with possible technology transfers to Russia and China would by a disaster.


4 posted on 04/04/2011 4:18:57 PM PDT by WellyP
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To: EnjoyingLife

Gates didn’t want us involved in Libya so he opted to do the mininum under Operation Odyssey Dawn. If the President didn’t listen, Gates would had resigned effective immediately.


5 posted on 04/04/2011 4:19:59 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: EnjoyingLife

AC-130s was all they really needed, once the SEAD mission was completed.

Hello Spooky.


6 posted on 04/04/2011 4:29:50 PM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
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To: EnjoyingLife

If a few older jets and some cruise missiles will do, then no. But politics is a big reason why we’re there in the first place.


7 posted on 04/04/2011 4:31:48 PM PDT by yup2394871293
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To: EnjoyingLife

Don’t waste any of its operational lifespan on that mission.


8 posted on 04/04/2011 4:42:29 PM PDT by Mr. Blond
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To: EnjoyingLife

Range and payload were the problem and a lack of theater ground support. The B-2s came all the way from the US.


9 posted on 04/04/2011 4:49:00 PM PDT by gandalftb (Fighting jihadists is like fighting an earthquake, harden yourselves.)
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To: EnjoyingLife

Nice pic!


10 posted on 04/04/2011 4:51:09 PM PDT by hattend (Obama got his 3am call about Egypt. The call went right to the answering machine.- Sarah Palin)
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To: EnjoyingLife

I’m glad they weren’t used. Since we have relatively few of them, I hope we keep them close to the vest until we really need their special capabilities. Let our next real enemy be surprised in high-stakes combat by what these babies can do.


11 posted on 04/04/2011 5:18:43 PM PDT by catbertz
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To: EnjoyingLife

Even stealthy birds leave vaporized fuel trails.


12 posted on 04/04/2011 5:31:00 PM PDT by onedoug (If)
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To: hattend

“Nice pic!”

It’s my desktop now!


13 posted on 04/04/2011 5:44:43 PM PDT by cameraeye (A happy kufir!)
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To: EnjoyingLife

Why use Raptors when Hornets and Falcons got it covered? Heck, Skyraiders would be sufficient. Actually, friggin Mustangs could achieve air supremacy in this sh*thole.


14 posted on 04/04/2011 5:54:32 PM PDT by Spruce
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To: EnjoyingLife

You don’t haul out a sledgehammer to kill cockroaches.


15 posted on 04/04/2011 5:57:41 PM PDT by K-Stater
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To: cameraeye

It’s my desktop now!

Super idea but I can’t bear to get rid of the one of my 27 month old grandson.....


16 posted on 04/04/2011 6:40:02 PM PDT by Thank You Rush
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To: MinorityRepublican

“”If the President didn’t listen, Gates would had resigned effective immediately.””

He’s always struck me as going along with anything that the bozo wants....maybe not! I haven’t seen any backbone!


17 posted on 04/04/2011 6:44:18 PM PDT by Thank You Rush
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