(Air Force Times) Backtalk: F-22 Raptor debate is a disservice to taxpayers and troops

[unhappycamper]

F-22 Raptor debate is a disservice to taxpayers and troops
Robert F. Dorr

Far from combat zones where Americans are in harm’s way, a battle is raging in Washington. It’s a war of words, but it’s nasty.

The debate focuses on the F-22 Raptor, the super fighter that has been under development for 25 years and has yet to see combat.

On one side are key Pentagon officials who say they want to pass the decision to stop or continue F-22 production to the Obama administration. They include Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England and acquisitions boss John Young. However, Washington observers believe Young, in particular, is really trying to kill the Raptor before the new president takes office Jan. 20.

On the other side are lawmakers and industry figures who argue that the nation must keep the F-22 in production to bolster the U.S. industrial base and preserve thousands of jobs.

For years, the Bush administration has insisted the Air Force should have 183 Raptors, while legislators, aerospace executives and Air Force generals have argued for 381. A measure by Congress aimed at bridging the change in administrations will fund four more Raptors than planned and bring the total to 187. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz has speculated that the service might eventually want 240 to 250 of the planes — although any number beyond 187 apparently will require a decision by Jan. 21, the first full day of the new administration and the day production line issues will raise costs dramatically.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/community/opinion/airforce_backtalk_raptor_121508/%2e



uhc comment: In light of the current economic meltdown, the $355,000,000 F-22 should be axed.

[NOW tense]

1. At some point our gov.

needs to slow down production of war making technology. We spend billions on the newest things to kill people, but in the end we already own the sky and it doesn't get us anywhere. It doesn't make us any safer. It doesn't make us any better. We could allocate that money to feeding the hungry with $3 a day. For 183 F-22's we could feed around 61.5 million people for a year. Would that make a bigger difference in the world?