Salty Dog
God Mode
F-22 resumes normal flight operations
X-47B Project
Behind the Scenes
Atelectasis root of F-22 problem ?
2πR
POI
Tyndall resumes F-22 flying operations
F-22 Raptor crashes at Tyndall AFB
Air Force told of fatal F-22 flaw
F-22 Testimony
First F-22 GBU-39 drop
Air Force assures F-22 readiness
F-22 on short leash for now
Pentagon puts new limits on F-22 Raptor
F-22 pilot-protection efforts
Is the F-22 Raptor too sick to fly?
Air Force accepts final F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptors positioned near Tehran
F-22 pilots fly long-range strike exercise
Latest F-22 Upgrade
End of F-22 production closes chapter in eventful history
F-22 scientific board findings announced
Why the Pentagon’s New Fighter Jet Will Now Cost More Than $1 Trillion
Global bank poised to cut off Iran
Lockheed begins test flights of final Raptor
Israel's plan for Iran?
The Last Raptor
Obama: Defense strategy will maintain U.S. military pre-eminence
Update: U.S. stealth spy drone
Doomsday scenario option available against Iran?
Lockheed Martin rolls-out final F-22 Raptor
Iran could seek China's help on captured U.S. spy drone
U.S. Stealth Aircraft captured by Iran
Obama boosts U.S. military in Australia
F-22 fleet to resume flight operations
China's J-20 effective capability: 2018
U.S. Kills bin Laden in Intelligence-driven Operation
Gates: America must balance idealism, realism
Limits keep F-22 out of Libya ops
F-22 Videos
Pratt & Whitney Delivers 400th F119 Engine to U.S. Air Force
Moving beyond the F-22
God Bless America
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IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE FIRST CITIZEN HEROES OF 9.11.2001
Selected U.S. Air Force aircraft began displaying this distinctive nose art design in 2002. The design was created by Senior Airman Duane White at Air Combat Command and features the words "LET'S ROLL!", said by Todd Beamer as he and other passengers moved to fight for control of United Airlines flight 93 before it crashed on September 11. Major command and wings are allowed to use the design on one aircraft.
POLITICS & ECONOMICS
Politics and economics has and will continue to play a key role in U.S. military success or defeat. The mind-set of the Charles Lindberg era, advocating America stay out of the war in Europe, not unlike rethinking the cost of post Cold War programs, the current mind-set, including ending production of the F-22 program, will arguably set the stage for America's military victories or defeats for the next thirty years. The final F-22 Raptor was delivered to the USAF on May 2 2012 completing the total build of 195 units. Only history will tell if the 187 active duty F-22 Raptors built, minus those that have crashed, will be adequate in number to own any hostile air space for the next several decades.
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FACT CHECK : According to the Air Force, each of the F-22 aircraft cost $143 million. Counting upgrades, research and development costs, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates that each F-22 cost U.S. taxpayers $412 million as of 2011.
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AMERICAN POLITICAL CIVILITY
THE #1 NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT - THE FINANCIAL COLLAPSE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
"Time to Start Thinking: America in the Age of Descent"
Perhaps the most divisive consequence of the Great Recession were the mid-term election results of 2010. We are living with the consequences of a deep political divide in Congress, resulting in Washington having become dysfunctional. The Founding Fathers of the U.S. Constitution determined that problem solving through compromise would be the only enduring solution to keeping the United States the greatest country the world would ever realize. Political moderation and consensus building across party lines would be essential, in keeping the legacy of our Founding Father's promise kept alive for all future generations of Americans.
"Cranks and Crazies"
In the summer of 2011 the newly elected Republican Tea Party members decided that threatening to default on the U.S. Government Sovereign Debt by not agreeing to increase the debt ceiling, (funds that have already been dispersed), would be an acceptable way to enact their political ideology into fiscal demands. Credit rating agency S&P witnessed the resulting bipartianship bickering and subsequent passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011, which they deemed as inadequate and took action.
On August 5 2011, S&P downgraded the "gold standard" of the U.S. Government Sovereign Debt rating, by one full notch, from "AAA" to "AA+", with a negative outlook. The 112th United States Congress will go into the history books, as the only U.S. Congress to politic over the first-ever downgrade of U.S. Sovereign Debt by S&P, since the rating agency first began in 1860.
THE BEST GOVERNMENT MONEY CAN BUY
"Greed is Good"
The consequences of the disparity of wealth distribution have come home to roost. Before middle class retirement health and security programs such as Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid reductions are addressed, comprehensive elimination of the various tax code loopholes are in necessary need of elimination. The "of the rich, by the rich and for the rich", bought and paid for U.S. Congress will need to address the billions of dollars wasted by the failed trickle-down economic policies of the past several decades. Tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthy, such as the carried interest provision, (15% top Federal tax rate for multi-million dollar incomes from the likes of hedge fund and venture capitalists), the 1 million dollar mortgage interest deductible, and the second home mortgage interest deductible are just a few that come to mind. No wonder the middle class is struggling. Their tax dollars are supporting the entitled moneyed class lifestyles through tax loopholes that are not even available to the middle class.
Middle-class share of America's
income shrinks
Sequestration 2013: Because Congress can no longer govern through compromise the following fiscal budget cuts have begun on March 1 2013 and should become apparent in a few weeks to the American people. The Congressional Budget Office estimated in September 2011 that the sequester over the 10 years would reduce Department of Defense spending by about 500 billion. Non-defense discretionary spending would be reduced by about 500 billion. Medicare and mandatory spending would be reduced by about 170 billion. Interest savings on the national debt would amount to about 170 billion. The approximate spending reduction of 1.2 trillion through automatic sequestration as mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 is now in effect.
"You and I have a rendevous with destiny."
The observation shared by many independent voters, is that the GOP has been overrun by right-wing extremists, most often identified as the Tea Party. This faction, when augmented by Republicans who have signed the lobbyist's "Grover Norquist Pledge", has resulted in moderate and reasonable Republicans leaving not only the U.S. Congress, but all levels of governance. The problem of allegiance to a lobbyist's pledge above allegiance to the American Flag is perceived as problematic at best, by many, if not most Americans. During one of the televised Republican Presidential debates, the candidates were asked to raise their hands if they would not accept a 10 dollar spending reduction compromise in exchange for a 1 dollar tax increase. All the candidates raised their hands. It appeared as unsound reasoning, that during an era of a 16 trillion national debt, that a one dollar tax increase on multi-billionaires, in exchange for a ten dollar spending reduction, would be seen as an unacceptable violation to their "Pledge".
This political polarization on the right, (my way or the highway mentality), will make it very difficult for the two political parties to reach any significant consensus on any of the major issues facing middle class Americans. Sadly, this lack of bipartisanship compromise will likely continue indefinately.
The Disappearing Political Center
WHY THE SUPERCOMMITTEE ON LONG-TERM DEFICIT REDUCTION FAILED
The Pledge: Grover Norquist's hold on the GOP
LOW TAX RATES & TAX LOOPHOLES & INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDING & RETIREMENT SECURITY = 16 TRILLION NATIONAL DEBT
EVOLUTION OF MILITARY AIR POWER
Rise of the Drones
HISTORY HAS PROVEN THE NEED FOR AIR DOMINANCE
The unprecedented success of the F-15 EAGLE has
demonstrated the performance standard required for air dominance
since becoming the UNITED STATES front-line fighter in the
mid' 1970's.
The F-22 RAPTOR, successor to the F-15 EAGLE, has
raised that performance standard a quantum leap. The F-22 RAPTOR has achieved initial operational capability as of December 2005 and is now combat ready. The F-22 RAPTOR, as argued by proponents, is expected to "own" any future enemy air space with it's stealth, supercruise Pratt & Whitney thrust-vectoring engines, twin supercomputer avionic synergies, including passive Inter/Intra Flight Data Link technologies.
It's to be seen if the F-22 RAPTOR will continue to retain the "right stuff", in its proclaimed front-line status of 30 years, against fifth-generation air superiority competition from the likes of Russia or China. Unlike the U.S. law banning export sales to allies such as Australia, Japan or Israel, it should be noted that Russia intends to sell its version to client countries such as Iran.
AIR DOMINANCE AND MISSION SUCCESS
Be it the Battle of Midway or Desert Storm, air
power has changed the course of history. Ironically, it was air
power that plunged the UNITED STATES into war after the
attack at Pearl Harbor and air power that turned the tide
in the Pacific at the Battle of Midway. Rapid
deployment of air superiority fighters saved many American and coalition lives and vanquished enemy forces in Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.
TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE!
Where will the need for the F-22 come from in the decades
ahead? Which of the many geopolitical flash points, throughout the world, ignite with little or no advance warning? No one can say for sure. But with the F-22 at the ready, potential hostilities can be averted, or, as in Desert Shield, fight their way into harm's way and own the sky, minimizing casualties. Not even an advanced version of today's F-15 will be able to overcome the anticipated capabilities of potential enemy land based defenses and their advanced air forces simultaneously in the years ahead.
Check out this latest potential threat:
Russia's Fifth Generation Fighter
ENJOY YOUR VISIT!
O.K..., having stated my commentary on the F-22 RAPTOR, it's your turn to have your say! Feel free to speak your mind in the comments section of SIGN GUESTBOOK-- your thoughts are
appreciated as I hope you enjoy your visit and THANKS for
taking the time to explore my site.
THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING.
EDMUND BURKE [1729 - 1797]
updated:
MAY 15 2013
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