Note From AFA President -- Sequestration, 4 Jul, Quote

As we get closer to the end of the year, we approach our #1 enemy – namely ourselves.  Without Congressional and Presidential action, automatic budget cuts – called sequestration – of $1.2 Trillion will kick in.  The amount of the reduction in the defense budget will be about $50B per year … a 10% cut from the current base budget.  This will occur on 1 Jan 13, regardless of who is elected … unless the law is changed.  This cut will be on top of the $50B per year reduction that has already occurred … and the cut will be spread over only 9 months … vice a full year … because the fiscal year will be already ¼ over. 

I cannot find one example where we cut defense 20% while, at the same time, fighting a war.  Further, I know people are hurting … but we now spend about $700B per year on welfare in this country – on all programs.  I frequently remind people the Preamble to the Constitution says “ … provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare … “ … and, in reality, the verbs (at least here in Washington) seem to be swapped.

Our key military leaders have gone on record about the impact of sequestration on our force.  (See:   http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/WashingtonPerspective/2012/Sequestration_in_testimony.pdf)  Also our Daily Report has published other key leaders’ views.  (See:  http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/WashingtonPerspective/2012/Sequestration_in_coverage.pdf)  They are universally in agreement.  Simply put … we can’t let this happen.  I’d ask you contact your members of Congress to make your voices heard.

Secondly, I had hoped to send you one person’s testimonial every 4^th of July … but was delayed in getting clearance to send it to you.  It is a piece by Neil Cosentino which appeared in Daedalus Flyer, the official magazine of the Daedalians [Note if you are/were a flyer, you might consider joining this group.]  The piece struck a chord with me … on several levels.  First, in war, we lose aircraft.  We can’t just buy a few and hope they will be enough to do the job.  We lost 15 B-52s in Linebacker II in Viet Nam.  That would, today, be like losing most of our fleet of B-2s.  Second, war is fought by humans.  If we can provide them with the tools to accomplish their mission and survive, we are all the better for it.  Our sons and daughter deserve the very best equipment we can provide so they can defend us … and themselves.  Third … a quote from the piece says it all:

“The war proved once again that air power is the deciding factor in modern conflicts.”

You can find the piece at:  http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2012/The_White_Light.pdf

Finally, I want to remind all of you of a quote from General (Ret) Richard E. Hawley:

“In the six months from 23 August 1967 to 5 February 1968, Vietnamese MiG-21 pilots racked up a 16 to 1 kill advantage.  In all, we lost 2,448 fixed wing aircraft to a third world military whose Air Force deployed fewer than 200 aircraft.  How easily we forget.”

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