Sen McCain: F22 Raptor may have to be cancelled to pay for Iraq war.

Yahoo ^ | April 11,2004 | Jim Wolf

[spetznaz]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon (news - web sites) may have to scrap its premier fighter jet program to help pay for the war in Iraq (news - web sites), Sen. John McCain, an influential member of the Armed Services Committee, said on Sunday.

Reuters Photo

"It's obvious that we're paying a heavy price, I think, for not having had enough troops there from the beginning," the Arizona Republican said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

McCain said both the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps must be expanded overall, a position at odds with President Bush (news - web sites)'s administration. The United States has about 135,000 troops in Iraq, a number that McCain, an influential member of the Armed Services Committee, said must rise.

As part of a broad overhaul of U.S. priorities, he said, the Pentagon may have to scrap the $71 billion Air Force program to buy F/A-22 air-to-air fighters built by Lockheed Martin Corp. .

"We may have to cancel this airplane that's going to cost between $250 million and $300 million a copy," said McCain, floating what could become a major new legislative hurdle to a top Air Force priority.

McCain led a drive that stalled what has become a $23.5 billion plan to lease up to 20 and buy up to 80 modified Boeing Co. 767s as mid-air refueling tankers. The plan is on hold pending reviews due next month at the Pentagon.

"We've got to change the way we do business and put the priority where it belongs," McCain said. "And that is making sure that we succeed in Iraq."

Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, chairman of the Intelligence committee, said the United States needed more specially trained forces in Iraq.

"People that are in there have to know what the heck we're doing," Roberts said on the CBS program Face the Nation. "If we do have those troops, yes, let's send them."

The Air Force hopes to buy at least 277 F/A-22 fighters, which it describes as key to dominating the skies in future combat. It is about to enter operational testing en route to replacing the F-15C.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has resisted calls for any lasting increase in the U.S. occupation force in Iraq and argued against permanently boosting the size of U.S. armed forces unless sought by military commanders themselves.

Last week, Rumsfeld said the Pentagon may postpone the departure of some troops supposed to be heading home now. The Pentagon originally had planned to decrease the numbers to about 115,000 in coming months.

[Hank Rearden]

Why not cancel Bush's "free" pill vote-buying scam on Greedy Geezers instead? What's more important? Which is Constitutional?

[Monty22]

Doesn't this idiot realize most of that cost is already sunk? And what about the JSF? This is needed for that too.

[armymarinemom]

Please McPain just join the Democratic Party. I'm sick of seeing a fake R behind your name.

[demlosers]

I doubt it Mcpain.

[optik_b]

This is what happens when you fight a war on a credit card.

[livius]

McCain, just go off and be Kerry's running mate. Follow your bliss. Give in to your inner guru.

[COEXERJ145]

McLame needs to STFU already and either retire or go join the Rats.

[spetznaz]

PING.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

No great loss.

I have inside information that the F-22 is already obsolete.

The next generation fighter is taking two steps forward.

An advance akin to the stealth technology, but in speed and maueuverability.

[Cboldt]

An advance akin to the stealth technology, but in speed and maueuverability.

Technology is fun -bump-

[optik_b]

"No great loss.

I have inside information that the F-22 is already obsolete.

The next generation fighter is taking two steps forward.

An advance akin to the stealth technology, but in speed and maueuverability."

The only people hurt by the loss of the F22 is the lucrative defense contracts and the army of lobbyists for the program. IMO F-22 is a cold war style program that will do very little to improve our chances against the 21st century terrorist foe. More money should go into unmanned aerial vehicles.

[DoughtyOne]

Looks like John's talking point from Satyr came through.

[spetznaz]

No great loss. I have inside information that the F-22 is already obsolete.

Do you mean this? F22 Raptor: Source coide crashes lead to problems in system software

[spetznaz]

Ping.

[ARCADIA]

I am sure that the manufacturer will have no problems selling his wares to China.

[Imagine]

We could save over $40 billion a year if the Department of Education were eliminated. We could save billions each year if the 90% of our wasteful social services were eliminated. We could save billions each year if Congress eliminated half its staff. And, we could save billions of years if the tax code were changed to a value added national sales tax and the IRS were eliminated. Should I go on????

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Do you mean this? F22 Raptor: Source coide crashes lead to problems in system software

Nope!

INside information.

[jpsb]

"$250 million and $300 million a copy"

For a fighter plane? That is a lot of money. Too bad we not longer have the manurfacturing base to support less expensive production of fighter planes.