White House vs. Capitol Hill
The F-22 debate is a high-octane fight between the president and Congress over a high-profile weapon.
Obama has vowed to veto any bill that would keep the program going — the first veto threat of his presidency. He believes that no additional F-22s are needed and that the money can be better used elsewhere in the defense budget.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has hit the same themes. He sharpened the attack on congressional supporters of the F-22 on July 16.
“If we can’t get this right, what on earth can we get right?” Gates told the Economic Club of Chicago. “It is time to draw the line on doing defense business as usual.”
But the administration faces a phalanx of lawmakers determined to keep the F-22 alive. They argue that the Air Force still has a formal requirement for 243 of the planes — which is 56 more than Obama wants to buy. They say the F-22 is more capable than other fighters, particularly against surface-to-air missiles. Several leaders in the National Guard have promoted use of the F-22 for their missions, and large unions concerned about layoffs have also contended that the program must be continued.
“We’re about to lose 70,000 to 90,000 jobs in the aerospace industry,” said Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., citing industry estimates of the employment impact of terminating the F-22. “We’re about to make an incredible decision.”
Another stupefying waste of money which has already lined the pockets of the military-industrial oligarchs to the tune of billions. We don't need it. Fuck, trade the technology to the Chinese to pay off some debt. Better yet, you wanna keep those UAW-type slobs in aerospace working, build 'em for the Chinese!
"Roger that, tower. Junkyard appearing at heading zero-niner-zero."
What do we owe China right now... (how many Trillions)
Bamboo and rice paper planes use a lot less fuel as well. 