[archy]

Well I was with you there until you called F-16 pilots cowards. I assume you know Air Force pilots transition from one aircraft to another, sometimes several times in a career? An F-16 pilot today may be a warthog driver tomorrow and vice versa. If you were trying to make a point you blew it pal.

Count on the bluesuiters getting called a lot worse things by the grunts, and for the potential of a lot worse things happening than namecalling if the family members of grunts killed because they've got no close air support come home in boxes.

Remember the cancellation of the army's 155mm Crusader artillery because the USAF air support would always be there to save them- as it mostly was during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan? Whatr happens when the grunts have no artillery and the USAF won't give them *danger close* support in populated areas? More Jessica Lynchs and Lori Ann Piestewas?

That is NOT what the *Aim High, avoid shooting yourself in the foot* Air Force needs right now....

-archy-/-

[Arkie2]

The discussion is about the right machine for the job, not the courage of Air Force pilots. Steely Glint owes an apology and if the grunts have a beef, and I believe they do, they can take it up with the Air Force brass hats and not the pilots.

[Steely Glint]

"What happens when the grunts have no artillery and the USAF won't give them *danger close* support in populated areas?"

Easy one. The grunts take unnecessary casualties and they learn to hate the Air Force with a passion.

Watching people get nailed because the USAF pilot overhead wet his pants and flew back to his hot dinner and his air-conditioned quarters rather than actually get take a risk and provide the close air support that was his job makes for very resentful ground-pounders.

Marine aviators, on the other hand, are loved and respected because they put it all on the line whenever they need to. Nobody does CAS better.