Kerry hasn't even been elected and he is already proposing distarously stupid defense policies.
Well if McCain makes it into the DOD I think we can all kiss the US Military bye. McCain has such a wonderful record on defense issues. He attacked the C-17 in an all out attempt to kill the program on his claim that it was nothing but pork and useless. It turned out that the C-17 has been the best investment made by the USAF in recent years. The C-17s are the best transport plane that we have and one of the few birds in the world that can airlift a Abrams. You can rest assured despite the efforts of McCain the C-17s have been very busy supporting efforts in Iraq.
Oh anyone care for another stupid McCain action on defense? He was part of the political coalition that has attacked the B-2 Bomber in the past as a weapons system that was not needed, over priced, and rather useless. I'd love for McCain to now stand up and attempt that same claim after seeing how the B-2 performed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo. We can thank blockheads like McCain for the fact that we only have a handful of B-2s and not enough to even start to ease the burden on the now old BUFF. Then what was is another weapons system that Senator McCain has attacked more recently? He went after the new C-130J that is replacing the older C-130s in the fleet. McCain's logic was that the USAF had enough C-130s and it is such brilliant logic considering the C-130s are all getting old and need replacement. The C-130J has enhanced the performance of the aircraft in terms of range, cruise ceiling time to climb, speed and airfields that it can operate from.
And what has Senator McCain turned his eyes on now? The F/A-22 Raptor seems to be his latest attempt to toss common sense to the wind and kill a defense program we badly need. Air superiority will be the linchpin of all US military operations for as long as we can see into the future. The F/A-22 is the means to secure that goal. So Senator McCain on defense issues obviously has his head stuck in the sand or has his head up his posterior as far as most of the democratic party on defense matters.
I don't like Rumsfeld for many reasons and think many of his programs are wrong and will hinder the capability of the US Military. That said I'll take Rummy any day over slash and burn McCain. McCain in the past has attacked the C-130J, the B-2 Spirit, the C-17, and now the F/A-22. This is not the guy we need operating the DOD. He has proven himself wrong time and time again and he continues that tradition.
Once again if you want some real potential for a Sec Defense than look to Tommy Franks or Norman Schwarzkopf. At least I have a feeling they would put their experience to use.
Edited by CJ AEGIS, 12 May 2004 - 04:13 PM.
"History has proven too often and too recently that the nation which relaxes its defenses invites attack."
-Fleet Admiral Nimitz
"Their sailors say they should have flight pay and sub pay both -- they're in the air half the time, under the water the other half""
- Ernie Pyle: Aboard a DE