23.06.2009, 22:23
I love airplanes as much as anyone one this forum, but the F-22 is looks like a boondoggle to me. They cost $351 million dollars each, have poor ground attack capability, haven't yet been used in battle even though they've been operational since 2007, and, most important, the Pentagon doesn't want any more (they want the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter). The only reason the F-22 is still in production is because of Congressional pork barrel spending which saddles the Air Force with more of the damned things. This is nothing but defense contractor welfare for Lockheed-Martin/Boeing.
Think how many UAVs or JDAMs - proven terrorist killers in Iraq and Afghanistan - or state of the art suits of body armor for our troops $351 million could buy! If you live in the U.S., I urge you to call your Congresscritters to tell them to cut off funding for the F-22, and roll it over to the JSF or to cover the cost of ongoing operations in Iraq or Afghanistan. Don't be put off just because it's Barney Frank (annoying liberal) leading the charge, this is a good government issue that should transcend political boundaries.
I know this topic should go on Spray and Pray, but it just burns me up that lobbyists are deciding U.S. defense procurement policy instead of the military.
Think how many UAVs or JDAMs - proven terrorist killers in Iraq and Afghanistan - or state of the art suits of body armor for our troops $351 million could buy! If you live in the U.S., I urge you to call your Congresscritters to tell them to cut off funding for the F-22, and roll it over to the JSF or to cover the cost of ongoing operations in Iraq or Afghanistan. Don't be put off just because it's Barney Frank (annoying liberal) leading the charge, this is a good government issue that should transcend political boundaries.
I know this topic should go on Spray and Pray, but it just burns me up that lobbyists are deciding U.S. defense procurement policy instead of the military.