AFA Members, Congressional staffers, Civic Leaders, DOCA Members, we have recently developed a briefing on the Principles of Airpower. A hearty thanks to Col (Ret) Phil Meilinger for his assistance in developing it. I would ask you to comment on the briefing … so we can improve it. Send your thoughts to Chet Curtis at: CCurtis@AFA.Org
You can find the briefing on our website here.
Secondly, President Obama was in Russia this week. He and the Russian President signed a preliminary agreement on a new nuclear arms control agreement. This will begin serious negotiations. However, I worry about the preliminary agreement because it starts with the number of warheads and launchers … and does not seem to derive from strategy. I also worry that DOD is not yet finished with its Nuclear Posture Review - which defines the strategy from which we derive the numbers of weapons, etc. I also would like to hear the views of the Joint Chiefs, the Commander of STRATCOM, and others. This is an area in which we should all pay attention … because it is absolutely critical to our security. To help add clarity to this issue, Keith Payne [no slouch in Arms Control circles] wrote an op-ed that appeared in the Wall Street Journal. In it he points to many areas of concern. I especially liked his concluding quote/warning from Winston Churchill: "Be careful above all things not to let go of the atomic weapon until you are sure and more than sure that other means of preserving peace are in your hands."
You can find a link to the op-ed here.
For your consideration.
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
It's not science fiction
The US Air force's latest recruiting ad is out, and it highlights some of the latest in technology and communications, including the role of an unmanned aerial system.
Their new slogan: "It's not science fiction. It's what we do everyday."
Watch it here, courtesy of the Air Force's Blue Tube.
Their new slogan: "It's not science fiction. It's what we do everyday."
Watch it here, courtesy of the Air Force's Blue Tube.
Report: US Senators Argue Future of F-22
The Congressional debate about the merits of the F-22 Raptor has not ended. The Hill reports that several U.S. Senators strongly disagree, and the names of prominent Senators on both sides of the issue cut across party lines.
Read it here.
Read it here.
Fourth of July thoughts & more
AFA Members, Congressional staffers, Civic Leaders, DOCA members, last week the Mitchell Institute issued its latest report entitled: Airpower for Hybrid Warfare by Michael Isherwood. In the report, Isherwood defines hybrid warfare [a blending of elements of different forms of combat] and describes airpower’s contributions to hybrid warfare. His summary best describes his main point:
“While the environment has changed and the style of warfare has changed, airpower’s enduring attributes remain relevant to the hybrid fight. Airpower’s speed, range, flexibility, precision, and persistence enable it to rapidly adjust and adapt to the dynamic environment we now call hybrid warfare.”
In the discussion of the paper, a member of the press asked why airpower was killing so many civilians … especially in Afghanistan. Isherwood made an important point, saying the ground commander was the final approval authority for all targets in close contact. Thus, the procedures for when and where to target airpower needed increased scrutiny to avoid targeting non-combatants.
You can find the study on our website here.
Secondly, I responded to an op-ed in the NY Times last week. I thought you’d like to see my letter to the editor – which was published on 25 June. You can find it at this link.
Finally, as we reflect on our nation’s birthday on 4 July, we should remember the sacrifices of those who served before us. Our men and women in uniform have been the ones to keep us free … and helped make us prosperous. I am reminded of an old poem – attributed to Father Dennis O’Brien – and if it were written today, it would have a footnote to say “soldier” is meant in the broadest sense – to include all those in uniform:
It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given us
Freedom of the Press.
It's the soldier, not the poet, who has given us
Freedom of Speech.
It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the
Freedom to Demonstrate.
It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the
Right to a Fair Trial.
It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and
whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag.
AFA wishes all of you the best on the 4th. I think our press release here says it well.
For your consideration,
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
“While the environment has changed and the style of warfare has changed, airpower’s enduring attributes remain relevant to the hybrid fight. Airpower’s speed, range, flexibility, precision, and persistence enable it to rapidly adjust and adapt to the dynamic environment we now call hybrid warfare.”
In the discussion of the paper, a member of the press asked why airpower was killing so many civilians … especially in Afghanistan. Isherwood made an important point, saying the ground commander was the final approval authority for all targets in close contact. Thus, the procedures for when and where to target airpower needed increased scrutiny to avoid targeting non-combatants.
You can find the study on our website here.
Secondly, I responded to an op-ed in the NY Times last week. I thought you’d like to see my letter to the editor – which was published on 25 June. You can find it at this link.
Finally, as we reflect on our nation’s birthday on 4 July, we should remember the sacrifices of those who served before us. Our men and women in uniform have been the ones to keep us free … and helped make us prosperous. I am reminded of an old poem – attributed to Father Dennis O’Brien – and if it were written today, it would have a footnote to say “soldier” is meant in the broadest sense – to include all those in uniform:
It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given us
Freedom of the Press.
It's the soldier, not the poet, who has given us
Freedom of Speech.
It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the
Freedom to Demonstrate.
It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the
Right to a Fair Trial.
It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and
whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag.
AFA wishes all of you the best on the 4th. I think our press release here says it well.
For your consideration,
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force helps take on Decepticons in Transformers
Like the first Transformers movie, the US Air Force again played a major role in the second, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
The movie is chock full of Air Force uniforms, uses some actual members of the Air Force and other services, and of course, plenty of Air Force aircraft soar through both on-screen adventures.
Here is an Air Force news story about the latest cooperation between Hollywood and the military, complete with a link within the article to a video about it.
The movie is chock full of Air Force uniforms, uses some actual members of the Air Force and other services, and of course, plenty of Air Force aircraft soar through both on-screen adventures.
Here is an Air Force news story about the latest cooperation between Hollywood and the military, complete with a link within the article to a video about it.
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