Air Force looks to strip planes from the Guard

[Judi Lynn]

June 5, 2005, 12:42AM

Air Force looks to strip planes from the Guard
Guard officials say they will be stretched too thin; plan backers cite need to streamline
By ERIC ROSENBERG
Copyright 2005 Hearst News Service

WASHINGTON - In a major redesign of the Air Force, the service wants to strip aircraft from one-third of its Air National Guard units and either retire the planes outright or ship them to other bases around the country.

All told, 166 aircraft in 28 of 88 Air National Guard units would be removed under the plan, which was included as part of the Pentagon's recent base-closure recommendations. This tally includes 35 C-130 airlift transports, 26 KC-135 aerial tankers and 105 F-16 fighters.

The plan includes retiring the 17 F-16s stationed at Houston's Ellington Field, a move local officials have vowed to fight.

Under the plan, an as-yet-undefined number of units might gain other roles, such as operating unmanned aircraft or other piloted aircraft.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3210766
(Free registration is required)

[Jack_DeLeon]

1. how the fuck...

are they supposed to protect the United States without planes?

[truthisfreedom]

2. exactly. bushco wants to leave the homeland completely unprotected...

which is why bushco has taken charge of defining "homeland security."

they want to completely dismantle the whole system and reorganize it for world invasion... anywhere, anytime.

[izzie]

3. Seems to be some truth in that. What are we doing with the 700 plus

bases over seas? I am also willing to bet they are not making them for families. This also will aid all those men that go in as NG because they wish to fly. Change is in the air but I can not see where it is going but over seas.

[RC]

4. This administration are the terrorists in charge.

They will have the say on if or when we are attract again. It won't matter if there are any military planes over here or not. If there are, they will just sit on the ground till it is all over except the shouting anyway. They did it once, they can do it again.

[hack89]

9. Protect the US from what?

There is no country with a bomber fleet to threaten us and it does take too many planes (which could be active duty) to protect against another 9/11 scenario.

[Toots]

14. Protect from nature

C-130s are troop and equipment carriers. I don't see why the National guard needs F-16s though or even KC-135s but the 130s are vital

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

19. South Dakota ANG F-16's...

... and pilots from Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls, have served in Turkey for the past ten years or more, on rotation patroling the "no fly zones" and are slated to get a few more F-16's with the "realignment" plans the Pentagon has put out.

[leesa]

15. Did you notice there was no air defense on 9-11? I ask, because

you seem to be wrapped in some sort of fantasy cocoon.

[Benhurst]

18. Don't say our millitary didn't protect us on 9/11! They did! They

did! Otherwise we have been wasting $Billions on "defense."

[hack89]

23. I thought we are talking post 9/11...

some of us escaped the 2001 time warp.

[Cooley Hurd]

5. The next attack won't be from the air...

...it'll most likely be via shipboard nuke.:scared: Fighter jets won't be much help in defense from that.

[leesa]

16. Good. Let's give 'em all away then!

Hellp rationalizers....we spend trillions on defense and they don't have enough bullets, armor, planes, soldiers...where's the money going?

[SoCalDem]

22. I think a coordinated attack on malls, schools, hospitals is more likely

What would strike terrrrrahhh into the hearts and souls more than about 30 of them, all over the country...all going up at the same time??


The goal is to kill a lot of people...not soldiers or guards..just ordinary Moms & Dads..and of course kids too..


"terrorists" use unconventional means.. and they know we are starting to observe ports more closely.. I think they will choose soft targets with lots of people..

churches..schools...hospitals... malls are easy targets.

[Mountainman]

6. Bush says, "Hell, I was in the guard and I didn't have to fly! Who needs

planes?"

[truthisfreedom]

7. i think you've got something there! bush wants those planes eliminated

from the Guard because they remind him of his failure as a pilot, and his punishment for being an uncontrollable druggie!

[reprobate]

21. In that case, the entire world reminds bush of his failures.

Because everything he has touched has been a failure.

It's a comment on the gullibility of the average american idiot that the media circus could convince them that this moran could possibly play act as a president.

[LiberalFighter]

17. Yes.. wasn't there nickname the Champaign Squadron?

[Judi Lynn]

20. Yup. Make that "Champagne Brigade." Very few casualties (snicker). n/t

[htuttle]

8. If any governors get rebellious over the next 5-10 years

...I'm sure Washington isn't going to want them to have an air force.

[shadowknows69]

12. exactly

dismantle the states ability to resist the federal government.

[htuttle]

13. The National Guard serves the same purpose for states...

...that the Second Amendment serves for the individual.

Plus, they are awfully helpful after a hurricane.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. I get this bizarre image of ANG pilots running around

flapping their arms & going "Vroom, Vroom"

[Ilsa]

11. Oh yes!

A very effective defense of the country! Would make for great a wonderful skit on SNL. Very, very funny. Gave me my first "LOL" of the day.

[daleo]

24. This idea should outrage Bush

After all, he has fond memories of his time in the Texas Air National Guard, doesn't he?

[jayctravis]

25. You've heard of the backdoor draft...

could this, Ladies and Gentlemen, be the backdoor retreat?