Sequestration Cuts Endanger the Air Force

US News and World Report ^ | 23 Aug 13 | Mackenzie Eaglen

[SkyPilot]

This spring, it was headline news when one-third of America's active duty Air Force combat aircraft, including fighter and bomber units, were grounded due to automatic budget cuts. This became a real and tangible problem when the U.S. military started seriously evaluating available options for the Commander-in-Chief in Syria. A no-fly zone was considered one choice at the top of the list.

But had the Air Force been called into short-notice action, there would have been serious problems with mission execution and success as a result of these widespread aircraft groundings.

Now the military is again updating its choices for President Obama in Syria if called upon after the latest devastating news of potential chemical weapons use by the Assad regime. While combat air squadrons are all flying again, this is only a temporary Band-Aid.

America's Air Force is shrinking fast. Worse, there appears to be little relief in sight even as demand holds steady on airmen and their families.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel recently announced that the Air Force is the second biggest loser, after the Army, if sequestration sticks (an unfortunate but likely outcome at this point). Up to seven tactical fighter squadrons could be lost. Heavy lift C-130s will be reduced from 326 today to possibly as low as 280 aircraft. All B-1 bombers will be retired as part of the latest defense drawdown from an already small fleet. Even the needed new bomber and Joint Strike Fighter would both be gone in a worst-case scenario.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

This illustrates the problem with “free trade”.

“Free trade” isn’t free trade. It is the massive one-way importation of cheap imports from places like China, for which we have no balance.

I repeat that. For which we have no balance.

Free trade will destroy America.

Bring back BALANCED trade now.

[from occupied ga]

As I said before the problem is with how the administration is allocating the funds it has now, and the answer isn't to give the turd in the white house more money, but rather pressure him and his accomplices to change the allocation or cut welfare. we have 49,000,000 people (I don't say citizens, because I suspect many of them are not) on food stamps 0 and his acomplices extended unemployment to 99 weeks. These are two great incentives for peopel to get off their asses and work aren't they?

Sorry if the military is bearing the brunt of the cuts, but there are two easy answers to that. First don't send our military into every conflict that doesn't affect us at all - like Syria. both sides hate us. Who cares if they kill each other? Second put pressure on the government to allocate budget cuts someone else. It happened in '94 and in the late 90's the welafre roles decreased. Bus to some extent and 0 to a much greater extent opened up the flood gates to parasites. We CAN'T keep increasing spending, that will destroy our country more surely than any number of unwashed primatives with AK-74s.

[SkyPilot]

but rather pressure him and his accomplices to change the allocation or cut welfare. we have 49,000,000 people (I don't say citizens, because I suspect many of them are not) on food stamps 0 and his acomplices extended unemployment to 99 weeks. These are two great incentives for peopel to get off their asses and work aren't they?

Wonderful - but here is reality.

The GOP does not hold the Senate, nor the White House.

So what you want (and I want) regarding welfare and stopping that bleeding of our national treasure down the drain will not happen.

The military is being cut off at the knees and being used as a political pinata, and that is immoral.

You don't take the one slice of our population, and the one institution, that has fought and given the most for our nation, and single it out for fiscal rape, yet exempt Entitlement spending from cuts.

The only real solution is a Bowles-Simpson "esque" plan via tax and spending reform.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxtopics/Bowles_Simpson_Brief.cfm

[from occupied ga]

We were attacked after 911 - did you forget that

I reiterate that there is a far greater danger to our way of life and to what this country stands for from the turd in the white house and his accomplices in kongress and the federal bureaucracy than any number of hate filled (fill in your favorate pejorative) terrorists. 9/11 killed about 2000. 0bamacare will kill millions and impoverish millions also. The fact is we don't need as many active duty personnel IF WE DON'T GO DIVING INTO EVERY CONFLICT IN EVERY THIRD WORLD SH!THOLE. We have no business in Syria. This is directly under the control of 0 and his gang. Giving him more money isn't the answer.

[from occupied ga]

Thanks - I was feeling mighty unpopular here.

[from occupied ga]

Lest any of you think that the military is taking care of it's personnel here's this timely article about the pentagon brass squandering $7,000,000,000 on solar energy. Can anyone say Soylandra? No money for budget cuts, but apparently money for "green energy" to make 0bama supporters happy. I think they should be cut ANOTHER $7 billion.

[leapfrog0202]

Thank you for the response. I rarely post and run but I realized the time after I posted and couldn’t get back to defend my comment until now.

I appreciate you having done so.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

The Military budget INCREASED 55% in the last ten years.

A portion of that is items that previously weren't on the military line, but now are. Take your solar example. That has nothing to do with the military (or military readiness, in particular), but it is bought with a military colored dime.

As to your mention of $1000 toilet seats, those things do happen. They are a result of all of the political rules attached to acquisition.

There is no doubt that true military readiness could be had for much less that we spend today. However, the services have little control over the processes that could truly slash the budget while maintaining readiness.

[GreyFriar]

I was appalled when I read about the $7 billion for solar energy. and have been appalled by the Navy being forced to buy biofuel at around $40 per gallon. Decisions like those get imposed by the appointed CIVILAN POLITICAL leadership.

The internal politics of the Pentagon are driven from the top down, by Obama’s political appointees. They have the power to override what military professionals want. And, unfortunately, not all of these military professionals are willing to turn in their stars in protest.

And that $7 Billion also takes away from what is needed in replacing/rebuilding the military equipment that has been worn out by 12 years of combat. bh0’s objective is NOT to have a military capable of defending the USA but to have a toy to inflict all of his social engineering ideas and leftist political beliefs upon

I recommend you take a trip to Ft. Benning, GA and see the troops there and what they have and DON’T have.

[GreyFriar]

You’re welcome. My pleasure.

[SkyPilot]

I was appalled when I read about the $7 billion for solar energy. and have been appalled by the Navy being forced to buy biofuel at around $40 per gallon. Decisions like those get imposed by the appointed CIVILAN POLITICAL leadership.

Exactly. I am appalled by that decision as well, but we know where it is coming from. I am also appalled at the decision to give up to 10 days of "free" leave to homosexuals in the military to go off and get married so that they can collect "spousal benefits."

So, he pays for these horrible decisions? The Marine with a wife and family who has been deployed 5 times in 7 years, and is shortchanged on medical care because Democrat political appointees want to waste precious DoD dollars on bio fuel and solar energy? Do we now desert the military, because there is bad political leadership in Washington?

If we use that "logic", then no senior citizen in this nation should continue to receive a Cost of Living increase, because bad political leadership by the Democrats has allowed the SS general fund to now pay for double the number of SS Disability claimants that it had just a few years ago.

I could turn to any government agency or program and make a similar claim.

The military is under assault: fiscally, morally, and politically.

This fight is where we separate the wheat from the chaff, the men from the boys.

[zot]

This is all part of the on-going program to destroy the U. S. military.

[from occupied ga]

I recommend you take a trip to Ft. Benning, GA

And see what? I've been to Benning in the past. No desire to go back.

My point is still valid - throwing money to the military to break the sequester is giving in to 0bama blackmail. Once you pay the blackmailer you're NEVER free.

Don't engage in combat in every dirty sh!thole in the world. The turd in the whitehouse is getting ready to militarily intervene in Syria. That is insane and shows how dangerously incompetent he is. And what's worse he doesn't REALIZE he's a total incompetent. And apparently neither does 51% of the country.

And that $7 Billion also takes away from what is needed in replacing/rebuilding the military equipment that has been worn out by 12 years of combat

Of course it does, but the whole purpose of every line itme on the budget is to reward 0bama supporters and entrench the Democrats power base.

[from occupied ga]

As to your mention of $1000 toilet seats, those things do happen.

They don't happen in any organization where there is fiscal responsibility. Take you for ecample. Did anyone in your house buy a $1000 toilet seat recently?

A portion of that is items that previously weren't on the military line, but now are. Take your solar example. That has nothing to do with the military (or military readiness, in particular), but it is bought with a military colored dime.

And yet the military IS spending it WITH the approval of the pentagon brass. If the military upper management itself cared they would fight back against this politicization. Ring knockers with their noses in 0's backside. The answer is NOT to give in to the 0bama blackmail.