“I still maintain that the F-35 cannot fulfill the mission of the A-10. The F-35 is not the be all do all is is promoted to be.”
Whether it can or not, what does that have to do with the retirement of the A-10? If you don’t retire the A-10, which of the other squadrons are you going to retire instead, the entire fleet of B-1 bombers, the remaining B-52 bombers, the F-15 fighters or fighter-bombers, some more of the F-16 fighters or fighter-bombers, the AWACs, the air refueling squadrons, or some other squadrons?
I’m not saying that the A-10 should not ultimately be retired. All planes become outdated sooner or later. However, the A-10 is a special purpose aircraft and until something better is designed its should remain and then finally phased out. The F-35 has not filled that niche.