[Beetle01]

Huh?
The proud tradition this country has enjoyed since the end of WWII, of having hands down, the most formidable fighters and pilots, depends completely on continuity. Fighter pilots who have attained elite status explore the limits and performance dynamics of each airframe out there. They then pass on that information to new pilots coming up and the tradition of excellence is thereby maintained.

Grounding squadrons in in name of dollar savings interrupts that continuity, along with the steady advancement of military hardware. We do waste money that's certain and some wasted money is at the hands of the US military. Many times however, when the military wastes money we learn from that experience. A process which keeps us from deployment of unreliable weapons systems and tactics on the battlefield which, could be disastrous.

One needs to ask himself why we could at one time easily afford to maintain our space program and the military interests of this country, where now we cannot. The answer is the lack of government oversight and waste in every agency across the board, along with runaway entitlements. As Harry mentioned, from 100 million dollar presidential trips to Africa to the multi million dollar conventions held by the IRS, the GOA and every governmental agency in between who seem to believe the lead priority of office is to party. Meanwhile hundreds of thousands of US entitlement out reach workers, set up offices across the land to inform the public about the freebies of which they may avail themselves. The various entitlement programs (about 235 all toll) notice I said programs, not entitlements which, far outnumber 235, manage to give away 1.5 Trillion dollars a year or about 50% of the annual budget. When one considers that 46 cents of every federal dollar spent is borrowed, the problem though engorged with complexities, is not hard to understand.

To alleviate this mess created as stated above, this administration has come up with an ingenious solution. It seems that by adding yet another 1.7 trillion in debt structure to the US' elaborate house of financial cards in the form of ObamaCare, we will all save money and the budget will be restored. It's magic, it has to be because mathematically even an idiot could see the numbers complete with double accounting, don't add up.

So, where does one cut when one overspends to the point where he has somewhere around a trillion dollars more going out each year than he has coming in? According to liberals, infrastructure is a good place to start. For example, an already anemic electrical grid is saddled with the added stress (there's the famous Obama double down tactic showing up again) of elimination of over 280 coal fired generating stations. And, I suppose folks can continue to buy bottled water in lieu of an adequate potable public water system. Same thing with the welfare system, like an aging Atlas with the world on his shoulder, the entitlement agencies strain to maintain relative in-solvency, hence the federal push for an explosion of recipients, LOL. And the medical system that must be fixed according to the liberals? Why it's obvious, add over 9 million non-payers to the rolls and force the rest of us to pay for the whole darn thing. It's just a stroke of the pen if you ask Obama. But, once you've milked the aging infrastructure for every dime, where then does one turn? According to you and others who have never experienced war or even served in the military, (and that includes our president) we just slash defense spending.

Amateur hour, anybody can play cause rules are for fools. Not intended to be personal Beetle, just an observation of facts in lieu of political double speak.

Don't disagree with much/any of what you said at the end there, but trying to stay on topic here.

As for the flights, the article specifically states front line combat squadrons. Exactly what front line do you think they should be on? There is no front line. I'm sure we had far more combat squadrons active and overseas in 2002 than we did in 2000. It's only natural that it is dialed back down. That doesn't mean these pilots won't be flying, training, and teaching. They will likely be moved to other squadrons, etc..

There is no front line that requires fighter jet squadrons. This also doesn't mean that every fighter jet squadron is being grounded.

The US Airforce has around 2500 fighter jets, so this is an average of 17.5 less flying hours per plane over the course of a year. I hardly doubt our national security is now going to be crippled.

Exactly what is the threat that you think requires all of these fighters to be up in the air all the time? Either you're paranoid, or you are just trying to use this as political ammunition, which is exactly what is wrong with the political discourse in our country.

This country is spending way too much money, the taxes are overboard, and all anyone wants to do is take something that appears to be a natural step and use it as political fodder. Both sides.

How about all those tanks congress forced the Army to continue to order, so that some congressmen wouldn't have to see job losses in their district where the plants were located. Even though the Army said they had no need for the tanks and had no idea what to do with them, and that the tank, for the most part, is a weapon of the past.

Soon, the same will be said for the piloted fighter jet.