Why the Heat Is on Robert Gates Over the Pentagon's Big-Ticket Weapons

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First, I agree that the f-22 from what I've seen and know insures OUR air superiority for the forseable future. It is an awesome and expensive aircraft and I'm glad WE have it.
Second, I was wondering how long it would take Obama to call for defense cuts. I remember some of the USA's darkest days under Jimmy Carter when we couldn't even fly 2 helicopters across the desert to attempt to rescue our people from our new buddies in Iran. But hey, we're all one big happy world.
Right?

Chris Petty of GA 8:49PM March 31, 2009

Anna Mulrine,
what Air Force pilot complained that the F-22 has limited maneuverability? You obviously know nothing about this aircraft or what pilots think of it. You have obviously also never even seen this aircraft fly. You should probably revise this article, as asserting that the F-22 has poor maneuvering capability, and that its pilots complain about this, is about as far from the truth as you can get. Anyone who knows even a slight amount about the aircraft, or military aviation in general, knows this. This glaring error invalidates your entire argument by betraying your lack of expertise on the matter.

Hans Blankenour 11:25PM March 29, 2009

The military/industrial/political complex is inherently flawed but probably unfixable. Contractors have been filching governments since the first caveman needed someone else to manufacture clubs for him to arm his friends. The issues are so complex that they defy solution. If Boeing goes broke to whom do we turn to build aircraft in the event of all-out war? Do MRAPS have a purpose in a traditional war? How much bang do we expect for our bucks? Are military planners wrong for trying to develop super sophisticated weapons systems? If they don't, and many warfighters become casualties, who will absorb the political flak that will appear in the media as we have seen repeatedly these past five years. If factories close what happens to skilled technicians, designers, and scientists without whom a rapid expansion of our industrial base would prove difficult if not impossible to rebuild. The more you peel back the onion the more complex it becomes. Add to all of the above the natural desires of politicians to get reelected and also serve the interests of the people they represent. I wish Gates lots of luck but I fear his only tangible result will be an ulcer.

T. Campbell of GA 1:23PM March 26, 2009

why are all the military services trying to compete with each other on all weapon systems, this has been going on for the last 50 years, and each service has enough to destroy the world 100 times over. there has to be an end of this thinking sooner than later.

paul morgenthal 8:21AM March 26, 2009