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Abolish the Air Force
The American Prospect ^
| Nov. 1, 2007
| Robert Farley
Posted on 11/02/2007 1:36:49 PM PDT by DesScorp
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To: DesScorp
Granted, the USAF wears postal uniforms and has confused military bases with country clubs, but we don’t go around disbanding an entire military branch because we might be able to get by without it for the next 15 minutes.
41
posted on
11/02/2007 1:57:58 PM PDT
by
SampleMan
(Islamic tolerance is practiced by killing you last.)
To: joe fonebone
42
posted on
11/02/2007 1:58:30 PM PDT
by
jblair
(Air Force Brat)
To: dakine
That's what I hear, except many of the 0-6s I know are runners, not golfers.
(Of course, I'm not a runner, either.)
:-)
43
posted on
11/02/2007 1:59:48 PM PDT
by
SIDENET
(Hubba Hubba...)
To: DesScorp
“To a man, my Army friends, past and present, think USAF does a lousy job of air support in ground combat situations because they think the mission isn’t sexy enough.”
I spent time in the USAF and while its not perfect I cannot see that attitude. IMO its just another hit piece trying to be divisive.
On another note I once saw a cartoon comparing the different services. Starts with a marine in a muddy hole with bullets and bombs whizzing over his head; he says “I love how it sucks here”.
The army soldier is in a similar hole and says “ boy it sucks here”
The navy guy is looking out his porthole and says “boy it sucks over there”.
The Air Force guy is sitting in his recliner watching TV and says “WHAT NO CABLE, THIS SUCKS!!!”
Point is the services have always fought for a bigger role in whatever conflict. The USAF does an amazing job and ideas to abolish it during a time of war are naive at best. Attaching it to the Army is just plain stupid. Lets remember the Army uses comic books for training manuals.
To: jblair
Enzyte. Look into it. LOL!
45
posted on
11/02/2007 2:00:46 PM PDT
by
TankerKC
(You don't have to believe everything you think.)
To: arthurus
If a single strike is called for against Iranian targets to halt production of nuclear weapons - you can bet it will be USAF with their B1's will called to get er done.
Next time boots on the ground are called for it will be the USAF that softens the targets and claims the sky (while waiting for the Navy to arrive) so marines and the army survive long enough to engage. If China gets bold to the west it will be the USAF that will make them think twice.
America has dominance in the seas, in the sky and on the ground - the only place we don't do so well is with the policy makers.
46
posted on
11/02/2007 2:01:01 PM PDT
by
DaveyB
(Ignorance is part of the human condition - atheism makes it permanent!)
To: DesScorp
I like your idea, though I'm afraid it might be too late. The "not a pound for air-to-ground" mentality shown by the Air Force over the last 60 years can be pretty infuriating to a grunt. The discredited air power dominance theories of Giulio Douhet and Billy Mitchell are alive and well in the USAF.
They fought tooth and nail to get rid of a superb CAS aircraft in the low-stall-speed, long-legged, well-protected, and well-armed A-10 to replace it with more F-16s, which had none of those qualities. They've always considered strategic bombing and interdiction to be a much higher priority.
At the very least, placing tactical air units directly under the operational command of Army units in theater, at the brigade level or perhaps even lower, is something that should be considered. This would be somewhat similar to the Soviet Frontal Aviation model. That sort of tactical flexibility will become increasingly imperative going forward.
47
posted on
11/02/2007 2:02:04 PM PDT
by
The Pack Knight
(Duty, Honor, Country.... Valor.)
To: rbmillerjr
I don’t understand your post. If you think my post was ignorant you obviously have never heard the crack-thump of an incoming round or smelled cordite. The single biggest element in any combat situation is establishing and maintaining air superiority. That, my friend, takes an Air Force. If, on the other hand, you are stating that the proposal to abolish the Air Force is ignorant we have common ground.
To: DesScorp
Does the United States Air Force (USAF) fit into the postSeptember 11 worldA resounding yes.
49
posted on
11/02/2007 2:02:33 PM PDT
by
MEGoody
(Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
To: Natural Law
Your complaints should be directed against the leaders of the Air Force, not the policy makers.
50
posted on
11/02/2007 2:02:36 PM PDT
by
quadrant
To: DesScorp
I hope I sound like the goat used in the AFLAC commercial...
NAHHH!
To: joe fonebone
We need the Air Force. Where else will all the hot girls who can’t get into college enlist?
To: DesScorp
This guy is an IDIOT!
F-16 killed Zarqawi, F-16s, F-15s, B-52s, B-1s and Navy craft bombed the caves the taliban hiding in Afghanistan.
UCAVs have killed terrorists in Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanitan, and Iraq.
I would bet the enemy forces have suffered the most casualties due to airstrikes.
JJ
53
posted on
11/02/2007 2:03:11 PM PDT
by
Jet Jaguar
(Who would the terrorists vote for?)
To: Philistone
“Sorry, but nothing says power like an F-22 Raptor demo or a Thunderbirds fly-by.”
How about a B52 carpet bombing. Or the F111 or B2 taking out targets before anyone knows they are under attack. Or the forward air controllers that land before the first wave of troops.
To: SIDENET
The runners are the ones who end up caddying for the O-7 - O-10s....
55
posted on
11/02/2007 2:03:23 PM PDT
by
dakine
To: DesScorp
Does the United States Air Force (USAF) fit into the postSeptember 11 world, a world in which the military mission of U.S. forces focuses more on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency? Did China and Russia disappear in the night?
56
posted on
11/02/2007 2:04:01 PM PDT
by
TigersEye
(Kicked to the curb and left to fade away.)
To: dakine
Hey, I did! BTW, no American military member has been attacked from the air since 1951. That’s called Air Supremacy, and it comes from an independent air arm. But then, if you’ve read your ACSC materials, you already know that!
Colonel, USAFR
57
posted on
11/02/2007 2:05:03 PM PDT
by
jagusafr
("Bugs, Mr. Rico! Zillions of 'em!" - Robert Heinlein)
To: garyhope
58
posted on
11/02/2007 2:05:36 PM PDT
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul. WWPD (what would Patton do))
To: SIDENET
I’m not a Major but I’ve caddied on many USAF golf courses as a kid.
59
posted on
11/02/2007 2:05:36 PM PDT
by
Dov in Houston
(The word Amnesty invokes a passion in me. Illegal immigrants are criminals. Supporters Aid & Abet)
To: Jet Jaguar
60
posted on
11/02/2007 2:05:59 PM PDT
by
Jet Jaguar
(Who would the terrorists vote for?)
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