The Wall Street Journal came out with this article today regarding the triumph of President Obama and Democrats in Congress in grounding the F-22 Raptor, after dueling it out for many days. Both Republicans and Democrats opposed the cancellation of this stealthy fighter. Craig Bradford had earlier posted his feelings regarding the Political agenda Robert Gates has in so easily going along with these defense cuts initiated by Obama.
My question is this: Who in their right mind, I mean someone who is capable and accountable for thinking clearly, would every assume that during these times we are living in, that the U.S. does not need a strong military, especially when considering what the F-22 brought to the table?
As much as I have loathed some of the actions and policies of Chris Dodd, I do have to give credit to him for what the Associated Press is describing as his staunch support of the F-22 program: “Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., a strong backer of the program, said his state stood to lose 2,000 to 4,000 jobs if F-22 production ended.”
He has a good point!
From the Wall Street Journal:
F-22 Raptor
President Obama claimed a triumph for spending rectitude yesterday after the Senate stripped out funding for the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor fighter. Credit $1.75 billion in savings, or a third of a percentage point of the overall 2010 defense request. Only a couple of trillion more, and Mr. Obama will have a balanced budget.
The Senate vote defers to an Administration’s assessment of defense priorities. In the budget sent up to the Hill in April, Defense Secretary Robert Gates made hard choices. Among them was his decision to kill the stealthy F-22, bar none the best fighter jet in the skies, and instead to focus resources on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
We happen to think the U.S. needs this program to keep its superiority in the air for the next three or so decades. Designed for air-to-air combat and to fly at supersonic speeds without being detected by radar, the F-22 gets dismissed as a “relic” of the Cold War. But not all conflicts are likely to be against inferior, unconventional enemies. China and Russia are building up their conventional forces, for example.
Congress might have challenged Mr. Obama’s choices on such strategic grounds. Aside from the F-22, the Administration wants to cut missile defenses, shrink the Navy and over the long-run reduce spending on defense, when the demands on American forces are greater than ever.
But instead we were treated to the familiar sight of 535 procurers in chief out to save their pet projects.Senator Saxby Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia, got an amendment into the budget to buy seven more F-22s and keep the Marietta, Ga. production line open. Faced with a veto threat from the White House, the Senate removed the spending line in a cross-party vote assisted by Republican John McCain.
One thing for sure is that the F-22 vote isn’t a sign of new fiscal discipline. Congress continues to bust the budget on everything except defense, most especially with its push for government health care for all. Meanwhile, the Air Force will have to live with 187 F-22s when the next adversary arrives.
