It’s time to abolish the Air Force(Boston Globe Opinion piece)

Boston Globe ^ | 06 Jan 2014 | By James Carroll

[US Navy Vet]

Boston Globe must be excerped only(copyright)

[US Navy Vet]

This is a "Food for Thought" discussion thread only and is NOT meant to disparage ANY United States Air Force Veterans!

[US Navy Vet]

In my opinion the “National Security Act of 1947” AND “Goldwater-Nichols(1986)” have been DISASTERS for the Security of our “once-”great” Nation.

[Timber Rattler]

So, I guess U.S. air defense would be left up to citizens on the ground shooting up with their hunting rifles?

[svcw]

It’s a stupid thought

[US Navy Vet]

You EVER heard of the “United State ARMY Air Force”?!

[Gaffer]

Well, I remember my dad telling me he was in the Army Air Corps during WWII and then was transferred to the US Air Force in 1947.

[vetvetdoug]

Once General LeMay and his type left the USAF, I believe the USAF as a military unit went downhill. The last ones left the USAF around the early 1980’s.

[Timber Rattler]

No, I don’t think so. The reforms in both laws were absolutely necessary at the time based on hard experience (World War II, and then Vietnam and Grenada). Congressional meddling and social engineering is what has wrecked our military.

[RIghtwardHo]

Don’t forget the Patriot Act which cemented the American Police State.

[Ouderkirk]

It is fair enough and it worth a discussion.

The intra-service rivalries are very costly.

[Gaffer]

I guess you could ask all those Iraqi Units on the highway to hell leading out of Kuwait about USAF as a military unit and being downhill and all. Oh! Wait, they’re all dead!

[Timber Rattler]

Yes, I have, being a student on the subject, and it became USAAF instead of staying USAAC for a very good reason.

[Magnatron]

I tend to agree with the author. You need ground to place an Air Force Base. To get that ground you need the Navy and the Army — both of which already have their own aircraft.

...but then again, I’m speaking as a Navy vet.

[Right Wing Assault]

Let’s just get rid of Air Force One.

[Gaffer]

I’ve read on it too, and combat units outside the US were still principally manned by AAC units during WWII under control of AAF hierarchy in the CONUS.

[DIRTYSECRET]

1975 Thailand. Mayaguez Incident. Marines were flown in from Okinawa. The only helicopters were Air Force. When the attack came the Marine Captain told the Air Force Sargent where to land using Marine tactics.The AF Sargent told the marine to go F himself.

[Mears]

I wouldn’t even read the article when I saw James Carroll had written it.

I gave up The Globe after many years because of writers like this guy.

.

[KeyLargo]

“Let’s just get rid of Air Force One.”

But, but, how will Moochelle and Holder’s wife get back to DC from Oprah’s mansion in Hawaii?

[bill1952]

You EVER heard of the “United State ARMY Air Force”?

Sure thing :)

728th squadron, 452nd heavy bombardment group -dad (pilot, B17)

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Personally I think that the Army should have an air support wing and a naval support wing, the Navy should have an air support wing and a terrestrial support wing, the Air Force should have a naval support wing and a terrestrial support wing, and the Marines should have naval, terrestrial, and air support wings.

Also the Coast Guard needs men (and women) on land and in the air to support its charter.

We should also have Space Marines, and a Space Army, and a Space Navy because that would just be really cool.

And we also need to start thinking about a Moon Army, Moon Navy (gotta cover all of those dry seas on the Moon), Moon Airforce, and Moon Marines.

And its not too soon to start thinking about defending Mars from those who would take her away from us.