More data that our military is over taxed. Normally the Air force sends these air craft back to a air logistic support center like the two perfectly good centers the Department of Defense closed during the last BRAC. At one of these centers each air craft is inspected, updated and overhauled.

The army has the same nightmare. The army has a huge back log of equipment that has been run in to the ground.

We live in a country were republicans claim to support our troops but refuse to pay the money to maintain their equipment or to pay for the war they claim they support. Isn't expected a government service, like defense, and nor paying for it welfare?

Thank you for this oppurtunity to post this user comment.

As back in the Jimmy Carter days when he the president allowed our military to go down hill. Example the army ran out of bullets on his watch. Pres Clinton did a sweep of our military, to conserve monies, now it's taking a toll on our active forces in war(s) against terrorism. Always history will show, the President that runs "to lean" of a military, the next president takes the hit of "catch up".
yours,
Charlie

Charlie,

Are you really trying to blame this on Clinton? He has been out of office for nearly 8 years! Rummy wanted the 'lean & mean' high-tech fighting force we have now.

Feel free to pull your head out of the GOP Kool-Aid trough long enough to realize tax cuts and wars do not mix!

Funny how two people see the world. A presidential administration has been in power for seven years, has been fighting one war for six, another unnecessary one for four and someone else blames a President from 25 years ago for the shortages of today, forgetting that Republicans have held the Oval office for 17 the last 25 years and are responsible for starting the war in which shortages and a lack of funding are causing these problems in the first place. Perhaps if folks saw the reality of their own party's shortcomings instead of trying to blame everything on the other party, this country wouldn't be facing the problems we face today.

The poster here says this country is facing problems today? Looks more like creating them is the truth of the matter.

In time of war, logistics and training get the short end of the stick. DOD acquisition is tough to justify with the costs of new items. Looks cheaper to maintain what you already have, but thats dillusional.

Republicans should keep in mind that programs like the Comanche helicopter and the Crusader artillery system survived the Clinton administration only to be killed by Bush. We have scaled back production on the F-22 and the ATF. What they have done to our military should be considered treason - if we find ourselves in a real war anytime soon (China, North Korea, etc.) we could really get our asses kicked.

I suppose this is the preparation for war since bushbaby threatened WWW 3. Sounds like we ready to go, EH????

Come on folks! Don'tcha know we can't be spending money on the fascist racist military. We need that money to provide social services for the 30 million illegal Mexicans that have invaded the USA and to fund their organizations like LaRaza.

(end sarcasm)

I am only a junior officer (O-3) in the military, but it seems to me that there are two countries. The first is those like myself in uniform who have been to the GWOT and been separated from my family and in a war zone...and those who haven't.

Frankly, we are under-manned, under-funded, and under-represented in the political realities that occur in the blogosphere and Capitol Hill. Until, you get out there and put a set of combat boots on and deploy, you don't have any right to critique the war or the defense situation in this nation. Frankly, equipment is equipment...it is all replaceable. The REAL problem is that our people are being replaced and being deployed too much.

The war is a reality that we must face, and this country (being led by baby-boomers) are being led down the primrose path. Everyone needs to take a big bite of the sh*t-sandwich and have mandantory public service to include a 3 year hitch in the Army or Marines! We are destroying the service with this rate of deployment and we aren't getting new recruits. That is a sad statement on this current (me-me-me) generation.

We are in this war for a generation whether it be Bush or Hillary or Obama in the White House. It is a fact of life just like WWII was for our grandparents. Get used to it and suck it up...do your part and serve your country or lose your right to complain about your government!

(Signed...a patriotic conservative active duty officer)

F-15s have been out of production for decades. They were initially designed in the 60s, and first flew in 1972.

So, what do you expect. This has nothing to do with nasty Republicans or dumb Democrats. Planes wear out, and they break. While there is an ongoing modernization program, more and more these planes will fail.

Umm, officer guy, the right to voice one's opinion on anything, including the military or government policy is not mandated on one's choice to serve in the military itself...that's ridiculous...anyway, these planes are scheduled for outphasing in 5-7 years; there are other tactical fighter aircraft being developed or already rolled out ready to take their place...it's a technology and budget issue here, nothing else...

I notice that no where is any mention of the massive diversions of cashflow from our military budgets into the earmarks prefered by both parties. 1500 separate earmarks from just this past week have been released. Try again to tell me how 'enough money' isn't being spent. It's just not being spent well, just like EVERY other government fiasco.

Just like on the sidebar to the left, shows numerous stories about Fred Thompson's friend that was once convicted of a crime. Do you really believe that only Republicans break the law (Sandy Berger?)?

Hamish, a Constitutionist. If it ain't in the Constitution, Federal Gov't has no business paying for it. NEA, ect.
US Navy 1985-1989

Equipment breaks. I spent 9 years as a miltary police officer and have seen the demise of many a piece of issued gear. Even $50 million equipment breaks. Sometimes in unforseen ways that could not have been planned for or described in a technical manual. Completely revamping a logistics program for an entity the size of the U.S. military does take time. We still see the effects of the Clinton era every day in the military. If it is a funding issue it would be because the Dems=Pelosi want to hold funds until we start to retreat. Putting my brothers and sisters in uniform's lives in jeapordy because the Dems want to extort the administration into giving in to the "Democratic party, Losing the war" doctrine sounds like a good idea...Not!

Unless you are an Over weight Christian White European conservative or you are male and have a negative thought about a woman’s right to choose I would agree that everyone has the legal right to voice an opinion on anything. But, only if they are in the USA and a legal citizen also they can not be on active military duty. Only then does the Constitutions Bill of Rights cover you. I am not sure why we keep acting as though people who degrade those rights by consistently breaking the immigration laws are equal under US law. These people are afforded special rights in so many ways I can’t even begin to list them all.

A very special thank you from me to all military personnel for the sacrifices that you have made to protect all the rights of these people who don’t realize that all the rights we have must be continuously protected by more than just empty words. It requires the willingness of brave people to give up some of there rights to free speech (No Military bashing while active) to maintain your rights to bitch and moan at will. I do not think that it is necessary or preferable to have mandatory service in the military but I do wish that more people would just say an unqualified THANK YOU. I believe in my heart that if more people were vocally grateful for the sacrifices that our brave military personnel endure for the betterment of this country and our way of life then I think that no matter what forces we faced there would never be a shortage of personnel or equipment. It is the cowardly bad mouthing and second guessing of every decision and of every action that we take that cripples this nation not the resolve of these individuals. We can and must win against the anti-freedom forces that we will always face so please do not let the BS that you see in the coming election cloud your eyes to the facts.
This is not a war that we brought on ourselves.
It will not be over no matter if we are using our military or not.
Planes will fail when they get old and people will die while protecting our rights.
If you are willing to give up or try to take away my ability to protect my country then be aware that…I am your enemy.

Hey Jazz,

Your "officer guy" comment...’first amendment I can talk about anything’. Well, you sure can talk about anything...the reason you can is because of officer guy. Freedom isn't free...something the "left" refuses to understand. What have you done personally to protect America? Nothing I suspect.

Another point, yes you can comment about anything in the US...but freedom of speech isn't freedom from sounding like an idiot. I wouldn't be bold enough to comment on something that I was ignorant of. A sign of a good education is to know when you are out of your depth and refrain from commenting on topics you know little about. Learn…join the military for 3 years…learning is what intelligent people do before they talk about a topic.

Lastly, I was an officer in the Navy in the 70’s/80’s. Being in the service post Vietnam was not a popular choice. I have a son in graduate school for Electrical Engineering. My advice to him has been: do NOT join the military. I based this on the fact that there is far too large a percentage of far left leaning people in the US soaking up freedom’s benefits at the expense of military lives…in other words: the left is disconnected from the actual cost of freedom…I do not want my son to die or get wounded while the left sits at home and judges. The left has accelerated towards socialism since the 60’s. I get sick when I hear lefties bringing out the first amendment when they have zero, zip, nada to earn the right. For my family it stops with this generation…my offspring will not join the military while lefties spout crap…bring back the draft without a college deferment…I want to see lefties having to serve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe Koool

To all of you including "officer guy," I have read several valid points on this post. However I think it is ridiculous to blame a lefty or a righty. I too served,8 years, USAF, and spent my share of time in the Middle East. My political views are MY views, I just hate to hear when others who have served act as if they have some special right to criticize without being challenged. Obviously a conservative crone...freedom isn't free...what a cliche that has become. If you want to criticize, look no further than your Commander in Chief, with his exemplary service...?

Just a quick note for Mark the F-15 is still in production while the concept of the fighter started in the 60's and was built begining in the 70's it has undergone improvements each and ever year.

"What have you done personally to protect America? Nothing I suspect." - Yeah, good one...I knew somebody would post some meaningless dribble here in response to my post...congratulations, Joe Koool...you incorrectly assume to know who I am and what I have done in my past. Just to please your curiosity, I am a veteran, having served a total of eight years in the Navy. I've zipped up my friends in black plastic bags, and I've given my blood sweat and tears for the US, as have the rest of my family. Your second paragraph makes absolutely no sense whatsoever (go ahead and read what you wrote, you'll see). What you say in your last paragraph really confuses me...do you mean that because your son will not go into the military, he has no right or authority to speak his mind on issues of government and foreign policy? Thats ridiculous, just like I told the officer in my previous post...and "I want to see lefties having to serve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" lmao...dude, take a vitamin...relax...lol It seems that you live in a world where there are only two types of people...I feel sorry for you, because that just isn't the case...

You do know the reason this aircraft went down was strucutural right? Maybe because it was too old? Or did the pilot take a turn too hard and crack the structure of the aircraft? Maybe the technician on the craft was overworked, and through some misfortune, couldnt see a hairline crack. The only thing you can really blame this on is an old aircraft (late 70's) or combat piloting at high G-forces. Or maybe overworked, undermanned, military technicians. This isn't truly anyones fault. old aircraft break everyday. Just remember that last delayed flight that you were so angry about. All because that Boing 737's engine wouldnt start. Things break, Get over it.