McCain: Congress should scrap fighter jet plans to pay for Iraq
Congress should consider canceling plans for producing Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F/A-22 fighter airplane to pay for funding for troop increases in Iraq, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."
The $257 million per-plane F/A-22 is set to replace the F-15C as the top U.S. air fighter. The F/A-22 is being tested by the Pentagon to determine whether it should go into full production, Bloomberg News reported.
"We've got to change the way that we do business and put priority where it belongs, and that is making sure that we succeed in Iraq,'' said McCain.
The F/A-22 was conceived during the Reagan administration. Last month, the General Accounting Office said the Air Force had not provided a post-Cold War rationale for why the F/A-22 should proceed into full production.
COMMENTS
- Senator McCain is very correct to suggest that there should be more thought placed into going forward with the F/FA-22 program. I just don't want the American people to end up funding a weapon system designed to fight in a war as war was viewed 25 years ago. The money might be better spent on weapons systems such as AC-130 gunships or a follow on derivative or other aerial systems (RPVs maybe)designed to fight today's and tomorrow's wars as opposed to yesterday's. Let's at least seriously consider alternative thought before moving on. Rick Rogers Posted May 10, 2004 12:21 PM
- Our needs should be based on the threat. That said, why on earth are we proceeding with two fighters at the same time? DUUUhhhhh. Even the office boy USAF should understand that. Cancel one or the other and stop whining. JSF Posted April 17, 2004 9:49 AM
- Has any one checked the real price of a plane? $256K is nuts. Yes we need to keep the system up to date, but I don't believe in the cost. Let's evaluate this. Unless the funds are set aside to spend on anything, do not oblige them. You already exceeded your credit limit on your charge card. Bob K Posted April 14, 2004 11:09 AM
