The F-22, and F-35 combat fighters are not failures, they are America’s greatest military disasters.

The Republican Party continues to lobby for increased military spending, and reducing funding for domestic programs. This is a fact although the Pentagon wastes nearly 50 percent of its allocation each fiscal year.

Today the United States military brass in expressing great fear that their arrogance in support of the F-35 is resulting in a diminished capacity in our air superiority. They admit that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are developing more efficient aircraft are earlier than anticipated.

In the most recent test of the F-35, it was defeated by the now antiquated F-16. This ‘super fighter’ was intended to be adaptable to all branches of the military, but continues to operate at a sub-par level. The bottom line is that the failed military brass is seeking more money from taxpayers.

According to a written testimony submitted on March 8 by the USAF to the Senate Armed Services subcommittee, American airmen are “engaged defending US interests around the globe, supporting Combatant Commander requirements in response to growing challenges from Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.”

In plain English, that means that we are f**ked.

The USAF states that the listed countries, America’s “adversaries,” have taken “the opportunity to invest in and advance their own [military] capabilities.”  The statement further reads: “For the first time in decades, our adversaries are closing in on our capability advantage.”

Why has this happened? The answer is simple. The leaders of all branches of our military have allowed their egos to replace their intellect. Our nation is wasting defense dollars as you read this. Hundreds of millions of dollars are sitting in warehouses, or are under construction without any hope of meeting our nation’s military requirements.

The USAF continues to support the F-22, and the F-35, although tests have proven that they will not be combat ready for more than a decade.

“The United States Air Force continues to be the world’s finest Air Force across the spectrum of conflict, but our potential adversaries employ increasingly sophisticated, capable, and lethal systems. The Air Force must modernize to deter, deny, and decisively defeat any actor that threatens the homeland and our national interests,” the testimony summed up.

Our military is to be respected by all Americans. Young men and women, mostly from lower income demographics, are courageous and loyal to their country, and our nation’s people. But their leaders have become ambitious and part of the political system.

Poor decisions by the Pentagon have not only endangered our nation’s military capability, it has robbed money from our nation’s people who are sliding into the poverty level at an alarming rate.

Blind and unquestioning support of our defense department by the right wing can no longer exist. We, the people, must expect transparency not only from Wall Street, but also from the Pentagon whose inflated budget has mostly become wasted taxpayer dollars.

Rubio says he would raise the Pentagon budget to one-trillion-dollars. Once again he proves that he is unqualified to lead our nation.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of Forsvarsdepartementet

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