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Is the U.S. Air Force really necessary?
World ^ | March 17, 2014 | Michael Cochrane

Posted on 03/17/2014 12:37:23 PM PDT by xzins

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1 posted on 03/17/2014 12:37:23 PM PDT by xzins
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To: All
By vesting operational command of U.S. forces with a joint commander, Goldwater-Nichols sought to mitigate much of the inter-service rivalry.

But, according to Farley, Goldwater-Nichols failed to solve the dual problems of procurement and training. By law, the services have their own budgets for acquiring weapons and recruiting and training personnel.

The separation of the Army and Air Force happened before my time in the military. However, it was always a matter of discussion. The Army, my service, was interested in air power as "fire support". In other words, the operation receives timely and targeted air support to advance any particular operation ongoing at that time. That is a good argument for having left the two services as one, but I think the answer touched on in this article is better.

Inter-operability is one thing, but interoperability is really about unity of effort.

There is a huge argument to be made for unity so that we truly train as we fight.

A combined service did not hurt WWII at all. They managed in less than 4 years what we've not been able to accomplish yet in Afghanistan.

2 posted on 03/17/2014 12:37:55 PM PDT by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: xzins
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You left the commercial in the text. I thought I had a stroke for minute. Whoa!

3 posted on 03/17/2014 12:39:35 PM PDT by Tenacious 1 (My whimsical litany of satyric prose and avarice pontification of wisdom demonstrates my concinnity.)
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To: xzins

I disagree. The lessons of World War II, which many are forgetting, demonstrate precisely why an independent Air Force is essential to this country’s defense. Talk of folding it back into the Army is just stupid.


4 posted on 03/17/2014 12:41:01 PM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: xzins

Inter-service rivalry has been wasteful and counter-productive.


5 posted on 03/17/2014 12:41:04 PM PDT by AU72
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To: xzins

“A combined service did not hurt WWII at all. They managed in less than 4 years what we’ve not been able to accomplish yet in Afghanistan.”

It has absolutely nothing to do with that, and I think you know it.


6 posted on 03/17/2014 12:41:41 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: Timber Rattler

Not talking about folding it into the Army. We’re talking about there being one unified force.


7 posted on 03/17/2014 12:43:25 PM PDT by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: xzins

For the past year or so, it appears that the long knives are out for the Air Force Scalps.


8 posted on 03/17/2014 12:43:46 PM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Too bad Obama does not take OUR borders as seriously as he does the Ukraine!)
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To: xzins

Rebuttal to Mr. Farley ... http://breakingdefense.com/2013/08/why-america-needs-the-air-force-rebuttal-to-prof-farley/


9 posted on 03/17/2014 12:44:47 PM PDT by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: xzins

The Navy has more planes than the Air Force, the Army has more small craft than the Navy, and the Navy has the better ground combat unit that either the Marines or the Army.

So yeah, who needs the Air Force?


10 posted on 03/17/2014 12:45:39 PM PDT by MNnice
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To: xzins

I’m no expert on the matter. So, for what it is worth.... I believe Vietnam is the worst example of the effects of separate forces. But I also believe Iraq to be the best example of the effects of separate forces. I think technology has a lot to do with it. Note that the Army, Navy and Marines all run their own fixed wing (and helicopter) units in support of their mission.

Most importantly, leadership is the key to any military success. And out POTUS has put all the best and brightest out to pasture to protect us from our warriors.


11 posted on 03/17/2014 12:46:25 PM PDT by Tenacious 1 (My whimsical litany of satyric prose and avarice pontification of wisdom demonstrates my concinnity.)
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To: xzins
Much like other 'jobs', the Air Force will lose more members to technology than anything else.
12 posted on 03/17/2014 12:47:34 PM PDT by Theoria (End Socialism : No more GOP and Dem candidates)
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To: Tenacious 1

I notified the mod that I’d made a mistake with the copy/paste. Thanks. I don’t know if they cut sections or not.


13 posted on 03/17/2014 12:47:49 PM PDT by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: xzins

I do like the idea of giving the A-10 to the Army instead of retiring the A-10.


14 posted on 03/17/2014 12:48:54 PM PDT by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: Timber Rattler
I disagree. The lessons of World War II, which many are forgetting, demonstrate precisely why an independent Air Force is essential to this country’s defense. Talk of folding it back into the Army is just stupid.

Please provide examples- I am interested... I recall the Army in WW2 did not use the b-25 correctly in Africa and Europe and was ready to scrape the plane. Dolittle had to retrain the Army how to use the plane...

15 posted on 03/17/2014 12:49:11 PM PDT by 11th Commandment ("THOSE WHO TIRE LOSE")
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To: xzins

“They managed in less than 4 years what we’ve not been able to accomplish yet in Afghanistan. “

In WWII we had political will and the backing of the American people and the press. Most importantly, the object was to KILL the ENEMY. In Afghanistan we have none of the will, the backing or the support of the press. We’ve sent our soldiers into war with both hands tied behind their backs and instructions not to kill anybody. We need to get out of that war as we can’t possibly win it with the current administration and we’ll never win it without acknowledging who and WHAT the enemy is.


16 posted on 03/17/2014 12:51:14 PM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: xzins; zot

Ah, getting back to the US Army Air Force. Nah, we got rid of them in 1947, let them stay separate.


17 posted on 03/17/2014 12:52:42 PM PDT by GreyFriar ( Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: no-to-illegals

My understanding is that they have always tried to scrap the A 10, but it comes back to fight another day, with multitasking properties unheard of in the other attack/fighter group.

It is not lucrative for the M/I Complex, as it is not currently a huge manufacturing deal for the industry. to scrap it is corporate greed in action

I don’t know, just my view.


18 posted on 03/17/2014 12:53:25 PM PDT by stanne
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To: xzins
Robert Farley, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky . . .

Stopped reading right there.

19 posted on 03/17/2014 12:54:23 PM PDT by oldbill
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To: xzins

All A-10s to the Army!


20 posted on 03/17/2014 12:55:02 PM PDT by onedoug
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