[DemforBush]

“It would eliminate the Air Force’s A-10 “Warthog” attack jets, which provide ground troops with close air support. That would save $3.5 billion over five years, Hagel said.”

I don’t claim to be an expert, but I have to think that a rugged, low-cost to operate and maintain attack craft that can carry a lot of goodies under its wings still has some uses. If anything, I’d modernize ‘em (glass cockpit, all-weather capability) not retire them.

[Iron Munro]

“It would eliminate the Air Force’s A-10 “Warthog” attack jets, which provide ground troops with close air support. That would save $3.5 billion over five years, Hagel said.”

Close air support is the game changer in a ground war.
Obama wants to eliminate close air support for US ground forces to reduce our ability to project power on the ground.