[vetvetdoug]

The Army and the Air Force need to reactivate the horse cavalry. When the USAF FAC’s got into Afghanistan with the SF troops, they had to find mounts to traverse the rugged terrain. The troops had to learn horsemanship. The Army needs to keep at least a regiment of cavalry that can be used when the terrain and weather keep mechanized vehicles from being of use.

[driftdiver]

I’d suggest we should instead use carpet bombing. There really isn’t anything in that country worth giving a single American life for.

Failing that, yes horses or rather donkeys still have their uses on occasion.

[ansel12]

The Air Force doesn't do ground combat, they don't need Cavalry.

People forget, or don't know, that Reagan was Cavalry.

From an article:
At President Reagan’s June, 2004 state funeral in Washington, there were huge crowds of mourners and dignitaries. Military and police honor guards. There were limousines, 21 Air Force F-15 Eagle fighters flying over in a “Missing Man” formation, and Army cannon booming away in salute to their fallen Commander-in-Chief. But if one looked towards the caisson, the Army artillery cart traditionally used to bear the coffin in military funerals, there was a truly rare and moving sight that will never occur again in American history. The caisson was pulled by four magnificent Army horses. Close to them, to the sound of slowly beating, muffled drums, a soldier on foot led a riderless horse named Sergeant York, to represent the fallen Commander-in-Chief. There in the stirrups, turned backwards, were Reagan’s Model 1940 US Cavalry riding boots and spurs. This old Cavalry practice continued a Roman tradition in which a slain leader symbolically faces and salutes his men on the way to his final resting place,
(snip)
But to get a sense of the man, look for a humble pair of his broken-in, well-worn Model 1940 US Cavalry boots and spurs. His Cavalry service was a source of pride, to the end of his life. Although Reagan later transferred to the Army Air Corps during World War Two, his Cavalry service was a source of pride for the rest of his long life. Decades later, when he was President, the US Cavalry Association at Fort Riley, Kansas was thrilled to receive his membership application. Reagan (who would also serve as honorary director of the veterans’ organization) had taken the time to carefully detail his Cavalry service, in his own handwriting.

As I faced Reagan’s coffin, even in my grief I had to smile: if there’s a special heaven for old Cavalry soldiers, Trooper Reagan, our last President from the old Horse Cavalry, will be in very good company. As a newly enlisted Private in 1937, Reagan had been told of a glorious pantheon of Cavalry heroes. Now, he was joining them.