[hang 'em]

I thought we weren't supposed to use the word Crusader because it might offend the folks we are trying to kill.

[McGavin999]

Ah yes, but the pigs at the trough don't care about logic, they don't care if it could be used. Just spend that taxpayer money regardless. Personally, I'm ashamed of the house directing Rumsfeld to continue a project he has determined in NOT what the military needs right now.

Jeeze, WHEN are these people going to put the American people first?

[joesnuffy]

Franks is a poor fit for Anaconda Battle imo and others Kelly From Jewish World Review

[History is truth]

To mitigate accusations of personal attacks, I am addressing this remark to you, the poster of the article.

Some of the comments made to this post and remarks of our elected "leaders" in congress are enough to make me puke. They critize the efforts of our real leaders, including the military, in combatting terrorism. Most of them have no qualifications to be a monday morning quarterback. Many critics of the military have commanded nothing more complicated than a beer delivery truck.

Thank you for letting me vent. Anyone who votes for a democrat is a fool and deserves to get what they voted for!

[caltrop]

Maybe they wouldn't have used the Crusader if it had been available for this particular operation. That doesn't mean it won't be exactly what's needed in future enagagements. In Vietnam artillery was critical. We could always count on it - regardless of weather, darkness or anything else which might compromise the gee-whiz stuff.

Look at it this way, the entire cost of the Crusader program is, I think, less than the amount of the increase in the Department of Education budget for the next fiscal year. Since DOE money is completely wasted and artillery support is indispensable I'm having a hard time accepting the demise of the Crusader without knowing what artillery system will replace it. Before I get a lecture on the budget process let me add that our excursion into Bosnia, projected at $1.5 billion for the first 12 months hit $4 billion at the ten month mark. Needless to say, I presume we've kept the spending level for the Balkans at something like the same level. DOD has plenty of savings available to pay for Crusader, or something else. What, for example, are we still doing in Germany?

[TADSLOS]

A mention of note: General Franks' career background is as an Artilleryman. I suspect he was asked to backup the SECDEF's statements.

[Anoy11_]

I have one question. From an economic and policy point of view, is the crusader different from the f22?