Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Note from AFA President -- GRGP, Loh, Nuclear 2

I’ve had a large number of responses to some of my recent notes. First, in response to a Mitchell Institute presentation by Gen (Ret) Fogleman [who suggested the Air Force create a new White Paper … and consider starting with one published in 1990 entitled “Global Reach -- Global Power”] , former Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Donald B. Rice wrote to ask if we had a copy of Global Reach -- Global Power … and if not, he would provide one. I said that we had one … and that I would put it on-line for those who have not read it. You can find it at: http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2012/GRGP_Rice_1990.pdf

Secondly, in response to a note about Nuclear Weapons [see: http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/2012/Notes_4-19-12.pdf], Gen (Ret) John M. Loh responded: “I understand this and I have been in the forefront of … [those] who understand the new normal in nuclear deterrence - and the value of the manned, nuclear-capable penetrating bomber as the most valuable leg of the triad in making our deterrence strategy effective.” He further asked me to distribute a piece he wrote for the Shreveport Times. You can find it at: http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2012/Airpower_deterrence_reduced_defense_spending.asp.

Finally 4 days after I sent you my thoughts on Nuclear Weapons and arms control [see: http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/2012/Notes_4-19-12.pdf] … with eight major points … a piece by Dr. Henry Kissinger and Lt Gen (Ret) Brent Scowcroft appeared in the Washington Post … also with eight major points – a few of which were similar to mine. You can find their piece at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/nuclear-weapon-reductions-must-be-part-of-strategic-analysis/2012/04/22/gIQAKG4iaT_story.html

For your consideration.
Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
"The only thing more expensive than a first-rate Air Force is … a second-rate Air Force."  --  Senate staff member

1 comment:

R. Barros said...

McCain was a lousy Annapolis student, a lousy fighter pilot, a lousy presidential candidate and a lousy Senator.

A close friend of mine from Japan flying days was a "resident" of the Hanoi Hilton for seven years, many of them in solitary confinement. He would have made a better presidential candidate!

I flew both the F-86D and the F-102; both had initial problems. The F-86D (fatalies) the F-102, speed issues. They both ended up as first rate defense aircraft.

Thanks, Mike, for your up-date on the issue. Secretary Gates threw the country's air defense system a curve ball when he shut down the F-22. We may suffer from that decision in the near future.

R. Barros