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Subject:
Politics vs. Common Sense
sentinel28a
5/28/2009 10:38:03 PM
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| Here's one for all of you to chew on...
The Montana ANG, my home state, just reequipped with F-15s from Missouri (the unit that had the F-15 disintegrate in midair, but that's besides the point). It makes sense: the MANG has traditionally been an air defense unit, being as it is in the "top tier" of the US. Getting F-15s up here was cheered by both Democrats and Republicans from Montana alike--and to be fair, it was a Democrat (Max Baucus) that pushed the hardest for the MANG to go from a multirole F-16 unit to an air defense F-15 unit.
Now, only a few months after the MANG went operational with its Eagles, it stands a very good chance of losing them. The reason? Dianne Feinstein of California wants them down there.
Now tell me if that makes sense. The only threat California faces is its own stupidity, and a F-15 can't help with that. Her solution is to reequip the MANG with UAVs, a mission it is not suited for and doesn't want. Her reasoning is that the North Dakota ANG is getting Predators; therefore, Montana should get them too, because North Dakota and Montana are just the same, doncha know.
I can understand the fact that the Soviet bomber threat no longer exists; the modern Russian bombers would stand off over Canada and launch cruise missiles. Still, it stands to reason that you'd want air defense units on the periphery of the nation. California already has a fighter unit (F-16s at Fresno), but Feinstein somehow thinks it's got to have F-15s too. Given her track record, I have a feeling her mindset is something like "Montana's a red state, so screw it."
If there's a valid reason to convert an air defense unit to UAVs, fine. But I'm not sure Feinstein even knows what a UAV is, so I'm guessing this is strictly politics.
Any guesses? |
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