On Nov. 4, a New York Times editorial, Some Sense on Defense Spending, praises SecDef Gates and the President for curbing spending on defense programs like the F-22 and the C-17. And then there's a little bitty sentence that's buried far down in the copy: "And they are going to have to be even bolder next year: pressing Congress to halt production of the V-22 Osprey."
What?
Why would Congress halt production of the V-22 now? Hasn't that ship already sailed (quite literally in the case of the V-22's deployment aboard the Bataan)?
Sure, the House Oversight Committee called for a halt to production, but their outrage gained little traction. The aircraft is fielded and flying. What would detractors suggest replace the V-22 were its production canceled? There are no new platforms anywhere on the horizon.
I've followed V-22 since 1992, and have panned the Osprey numerous times myself. I certainly don't think it's an aircraft without faults. But the Marines have been working rigorously, especially lately, to iron out the problems. They're hopelessly devoted to the capabilities the aircraft provides them.
And it sounds like other services are too. Rumblings of interest from the Air Force and Army may well expand the aircraft's use in the next decade.
The editorial notes the cancellation of V-22 production would be considered a "bold move" on the part of the President. But the New York Times doesn't really explain why. Or offer up an idea for what would replace the aircraft.
Love it or hate it, the V-22 is operational. Trying to halt the program now would be counterintuitive.
- Just not fully ship qualified after all these years. The USAF is out of money so I would say much beyond the "program of record" might be difficult. Assuming it doesn't have any more problems, one would think it would be a good fit for the Army, (not having to deal with ship ops and all).
They NY Times missing the mark on defense issues. I'm shocked.
60 minutes just ran a story about $60 billion in Medicare fraud annually. It has apparently replaced drug trafficking as Florida's number one crime by dollar amount. Pelosi's Frankenbill of healthcare reform has one cost estimate of $2.4 trillion over ten years.
NYT "Hey defense spending is out of control" No wonder the NYT is dying, not quick enough for me.
All the NYT needs to know to think it should be "killed" is that it's a US defense program. Wait until the F-22 line is dead and see the F-35 get the same treatment.
Just not fully ship qualified after all these years. The USAF is out of money so I would say much beyond the "program of record" might be difficult. Assuming it doesn't have any more problems, one would think it would be a good fit for the Army, (not having to deal with ship ops and all).
They NY Times missing the mark on defense issues. I'm shocked.
NYT "Hey defense spending is out of control" No wonder the NYT is dying, not quick enough for me.