AFA Members, Congressional Staffers, Civic Leaders, DOCA Members, one concern I have had, following SECDEF's April decisions to shut-down or truncate seven aircraft production lines, is the continued vibrancy of the aerospace industrial base. As you may recall, the AF depends upon industry to produce the systems they need to defend the nation's interests both at home and abroad. This base has produced the world's best weapon systems – by any measure – and has provided the tools to facilitate the stunning military victories we have enjoyed these past 30+ years. The question for us all is: Can we continue to assume the industrial base will always be there in the future?
Dr. Rebecca Grant, Director of the Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies, has produced a Mitchell paper which addresses this question. You can find the paper on our website at: http://www.afa.org/Mitchell/Reports/MP4_Arsenal_1009.pdf
Secondly, several months ago, during a Mitchell Institute presentation on the Hill, a Congressional Staff member asked a simple question: Why do weapon systems cost so much? Dr Grant answered him … and I added my two cents. However, I think neither of us did a very good job with our answers. Two weeks ago, I drafted a response to share with you … and sent it to several retired General officers for their comment. One – Gen (Ret) Richard E. Hawley – came back to me … not with edits, but with his own paper … which (not surprisingly) was better than mine. You can find a link to Gen Hawley's paper at: http://www.afa.org/edop/2009/WhyWeaponsSystemsCostSoMuch.pdf
For your consideration.
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
CSAR, Sorties, Afghan, PRC Cyber, ABL
AFA Members, Congressional Staffers, Civic Leaders, and DOCA members, one of our staff members pointed me to a piece in Aimpoints - a pictorial about Combat Search and Rescue in Afghanistan - which is focused on the great work done by the Air Force's PJ's. The piece was done in September by Michael Yon - who was imbedded with the AF's CSAR forces. What I found interesting about the piece was its insights into what it is like to be deployed to Afghanistan - the scenery, the great work done by US forces, and the very-real dangers. Secondly, one can easily see why the Air Force needs a new replacement helicopter for this mission … and why this mission is not a "pick-up" mission. There has to be a dedicated force which trains, lives and breathes this mission. Finally, the heroism of these units makes one proud to have served with them. The link to the piece can be found at: http://aimpoints.hq.af.mil/display.cfm?id=35673 [caution: the file is large and may take some time to download].
Secondly, the Air Force, on 3 Nov 09 recorded its 100,000th sortie this year in support of our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a milestone of which all of us can be proud.
Three very good op-eds for your consideration. The first looks at Afghanistan through the lens of Viet Nam. It is can be found at: http://www.newsweek.com/id/221632
The second discusses China's Cyber offensive: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703399204574508413849779406.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
The third, by Gen (Ret) Lyles, argues that DOD's cuts to the Airborne Laser Program were misguided: http://www.afa.org/edop/2009/ABL%20Lyles--Washington%20Examiner.pdf
For your consideration,
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Secondly, the Air Force, on 3 Nov 09 recorded its 100,000th sortie this year in support of our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a milestone of which all of us can be proud.
Three very good op-eds for your consideration. The first looks at Afghanistan through the lens of Viet Nam. It is can be found at: http://www.newsweek.com/id/221632
The second discusses China's Cyber offensive: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703399204574508413849779406.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
The third, by Gen (Ret) Lyles, argues that DOD's cuts to the Airborne Laser Program were misguided: http://www.afa.org/edop/2009/ABL%20Lyles--Washington%20Examiner.pdf
For your consideration,
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
2010 Statement of Policy, Airpower in Afghanistan
AFA Members, Congressional Staffers, Civic Leaders, DOCA Members, In Sept AFA decided on its Statement of Policy for 2010. Its focus is on a Balanced Air Force - balanced in terms of capabilities today … and tomorrow. The long version can be found at: http://www.afa.org/AboutUs/SOP2010.pdf
For those of you who want the condensed version, you can find it at: http://www.afa.org/AboutUs/TopIssues_2010.pdf
Secondly, two weeks ago there was a piece in a South Carolina newspaper which highlights just one aspect of Airpower's contributions to the fight in Afghanistan - that of airlift's vital role. You can find the story at: http://www.thestate.com/local/story/993752.html
Finally, with the national debate raging on what to do in Afghanistan, two Congressional leaders - Congressman Ike Skelton and Senator Joe Lieberman offered their advice in a piece entitled: "Don't Settle for Stalemate in Afghanistan." The piece appeared in the Washington Post a couple weeks ago and a link to it can be found on our website at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/16/AR2009101602650.html
For your consideration,
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
For those of you who want the condensed version, you can find it at: http://www.afa.org/AboutUs/TopIssues_2010.pdf
Secondly, two weeks ago there was a piece in a South Carolina newspaper which highlights just one aspect of Airpower's contributions to the fight in Afghanistan - that of airlift's vital role. You can find the story at: http://www.thestate.com/local/story/993752.html
Finally, with the national debate raging on what to do in Afghanistan, two Congressional leaders - Congressman Ike Skelton and Senator Joe Lieberman offered their advice in a piece entitled: "Don't Settle for Stalemate in Afghanistan." The piece appeared in the Washington Post a couple weeks ago and a link to it can be found on our website at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/16/AR2009101602650.html
For your consideration,
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Cyber, Iran, Airpower
We ran across three interesting pieces. The first appeared in Foreign Affairs, is written by Gen (R) Wesley Clark and Peter Levin. It describes the nature and depth of the cyber threat to the US … and offers prescriptions for our defenses. What if leaves out are the many policy issues that the Administration must face in order to be fully prepared. You can find a link to this piece on our website at:http://www.afa.org/edop/2009/edop_10-23-09.asp
The second piece appeared in the Washington Times and discusses the after-effects of an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. It gives a thoughtful analysis to the issues … at the strategic level [which is generally hard to do within the limits of an op-ed page]. You can find a link to this piece on our website at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/22/timperlake-what-if-israel-strikes-iran-from-the-ai/
Finally, a piece in Armed Forces Journal written by Phil Meilinger – a retired Air Force Colonel, who has a PhD in military history. In the piece he posits that it is Airpower that has drastically reduced civilian casualties in warfare. This is an important piece … as the President and his national security team debate sending more troops to Afghanistan. You can find a link to this piece on our website at: http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2009/07/4079006/
The second piece appeared in the Washington Times and discusses the after-effects of an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. It gives a thoughtful analysis to the issues … at the strategic level [which is generally hard to do within the limits of an op-ed page]. You can find a link to this piece on our website at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/22/timperlake-what-if-israel-strikes-iran-from-the-ai/
Finally, a piece in Armed Forces Journal written by Phil Meilinger – a retired Air Force Colonel, who has a PhD in military history. In the piece he posits that it is Airpower that has drastically reduced civilian casualties in warfare. This is an important piece … as the President and his national security team debate sending more troops to Afghanistan. You can find a link to this piece on our website at: http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2009/07/4079006/
Debt, Friedman, Heroes
AFA Members, Congressional Staffers, Civic Leaders, DOCA members, a while back I wrote, in concern, about my worries over the rising national debt. That this is a national security issue is without question. Last fiscal year, the interest on our $12 trillion debt was over $380 B. As the debt and interest rates rise, it will squeeze defense spending. A very good editorial on this can be found on our website at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704429304574467071019099570.html
Secondly, this week Tom Friedman's editorial in the NY Times was a bit unusual. In it he recommends what President Obama should say at his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech … and he pays tribute to the great men and women who are defending our freedom. The editorial can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/opinion/11friedman.html?_r=1&em
Finally, a small piece in the NY Post caught my attention. It pays tribute to two of our fallen warriors, who gave their last full measure. It turns out they were not killed in Iraq or Afghanistan … but in the Philippines … by Abu Sayyaf, an ally of Al Qaeda. This should remind us all of the global nature of terrorism … and what the stakes are in battling this scourge. You can find the article on our website at: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/american_heroes_EjJqzluXBnII6MqVHJNwuL
For your consideration,
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Secondly, this week Tom Friedman's editorial in the NY Times was a bit unusual. In it he recommends what President Obama should say at his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech … and he pays tribute to the great men and women who are defending our freedom. The editorial can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/opinion/11friedman.html?_r=1&em
Finally, a small piece in the NY Post caught my attention. It pays tribute to two of our fallen warriors, who gave their last full measure. It turns out they were not killed in Iraq or Afghanistan … but in the Philippines … by Abu Sayyaf, an ally of Al Qaeda. This should remind us all of the global nature of terrorism … and what the stakes are in battling this scourge. You can find the article on our website at: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/american_heroes_EjJqzluXBnII6MqVHJNwuL
For your consideration,
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
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