A few quotes from an article that is written about a City Council that is writing Senator Durbin on behalf of the F-35 program. Note that they talk about the jobs that the program provides AND NOT the capabilities that the airplane brings. Additionally note that we're seeing a weird group of individuals coming together to try and stop this program. Various Congressman, Think Tanks, Bloggers (me included...but for my own reasons) and even Lobbyist (but they'll never match the numbers that LM bring to the table). Read the whole story but the pertinent quotes follow....
"In the financial industry, we have this phrase, 'too big to fail,' and I'm wondering if this project is so large in scope that it was too big to cancel," Durbin said. "Have we reached a point when it comes to acquisitions in the future that we have to take this into consideration?"&
"I think the uptick of activity that you see coming from (Lockheed Martin) is indicative of concern over the future of the program," said Miles, who started an online petition calling for the F-35's cancellation. "Everyone recognizes that the program as planned is unsustainable. There simply isn't $1.5 trillion to spend on a weapons system that doesn't work."Its really clear for the Marine Corps. Bill Sweetman said it a couple of years ago and I dismissed him out of hand. To paraphrase...
You would have your EFV if you (meaning the Marine Corps) weren't buying a transport helicopter (the V-22) that costs as much as a fighter, a fighter that costs more than anything else thats ever been done (except the B-2)...we should have followed the Airbus model and standardize avionics between three different airframes...then you would have what you really want.The son of a bitch was right. I hope I never run into him because I owe him a bottle of his favorite adult beverage and a 5 star dinner...hopefully he'll be so drunk and full that he forgets how right he was.
The Marine Corps is making bad choices and once again finds itself in a STUPID situation. We're having to tailor our forces to fit equipment instead of buying equipment to fit our doctrine AND our forces.
