Yesterday, in the Washington Times (and the Early Bird), there appeared the most significant op-ed of my time as President of the Air Force Association.
It was written by two former Secretaries of the Air Force -- F. Whitten Peters and Michael W. Wynne.
In the piece, they describe the state of the Air Force. A quote to interest you:
“The Air Force has arrived at a make-or-break moment. The past 10 years have seen the service's share of the defense budget decline to record lows - hovering around 20 percent of the total - while 90 percent of the fiscal 2013 defense budget cuts were levied on the Air Force. In fact, the 2013 budget marks the fewest number of Air Force aircraft purchased in a given year since 1916, when the aviation section of the Army Signal Corps was buying Curtiss JN4 Jenny biplanes. The country actually managed to buy more aircraft in the midst of the Great Depression than it will next year. The Air Force faces a 100-year replacement rate for its fleet.
Resetting the U.S. Air Force will require investment - and it must be both substantial and stable over the coming years. While this is a tall order in our current budget climate, Air Force air power affords our leaders a broad range of critical policy options. Failing to recognize this - and make needed investments now - would be a choice the nation can't afford over the long run.”
You can find the piece on our website at: http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2012/wanted-New_planes.asp
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
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5 comments:
It's becoming more and more evident that our government,with a leader that is determand to weaken our defence, is doing just that. Our airforce is the main thing that keeps our enemies from invading us. We need new leaders that will keep our country strong. The leaders that we have now are making us a second rate country that none of our enemies will respect or fear our power.
I'm sure that most people realize that the funding of the Air Force is a Congressional mandate/responsibility and not that of any President. I have watched with growing unrest over the past few years as the Sec Def and some within the Air Force itself seem hell bent on minimizing the role of the Air Force. Public missteps by Air Force senior leaders have also paved the way for Congress to cut Air Force funding. Whether its the unfathomable decision regarding the F-22 (no enemy to fight??)and its "you'll have to drag me all the way" realization of the ever growing, essential role of UAVs ... the Air Force has often "shot" itself in the "foot."
We're now seeing the reaping of such sowing ... and I fear that our own petulance and in-fighting will have us scrambling for budgetary table scraps for years to come if we don't get our act straight and are able to get a Republican super majority in Congress. The latter being essential in getting more Air Force friendlies on board.
It is obvious that this administration is in lock step with NATO and the UN believing in an international coalition of forces rather than a strong domestic defense system. It appears that we may also be moving toward a consolidation of services. Regardless, we must take steps quickly to reinforce our fleet or the cost will quickly escalate.
Our superiority is at risk due to the liberal majority in power.
It is up to us to change that.
re: Significant Op-ed
I hope you don't mind but I copied and forwarded the entire piece to our two senators from Missouri and to my 7th district congressman, Billy Long. I will also forward it to representative Vicky Hartzler from Missouri. I am not in her district but I get email newsletters from her, and, she is on an armed force4s committee.
Richard Bode
diesdrear@lwol.com
Comes from a congress that is NOT military oriented
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