Clash of Titans

Fire of Liberty

Ralph Peters has written a interesting column in The New York Post on the clash of cultures between the various branches of US armed forces. If your familiar with the military, you know that the Marines and the Army bear the heaviest burden fighting on the ground while the Air Force is considered a cushy job more attuned to a golf pro at the local country club. Unlike the Army and Marines who put in 16 hour days on the ground and flying helicopters here and there, the Air Force sky-jocks face very limited stints in the air (barring the airlift guys) in their multi million dollar jet with little or no opposition. Such has gotten under Peters' collar which is evident in the following paragraphs:

Morally bankrupt, the Air Force is willing to turn a blind eye to the pressing needs of soldiers and Marines at war in order to get more of its $300-million-apiece junk fighters. With newer, far more costly aircraft than the Marines possess, the Air Force pleads that it just can't defend our country without devouring the nation's defense budget.

Meanwhile, Marine aviators fly combat missions in aging jets and ancient helicopters, doing their best for America — and refusing to beg, lie, cheat or blame their gear.

I had gone out to Yuma to speak to Dog Davis' Marines about future war. The truth is they should have been lecturing to me. There is nothing more inspiring than being around United States Marines (yes, a retired Army officer wrote that). The Corps does more with its limited resources than any other branch of government. The Marines are a bargain rivaled only by our under-funded Coast Guard.

I'd have to say I'm with Peters on this one. Yes, you need the Air Force to conduct bombing runs and other tasks when needed (evident in any war) but the Pentagon has other areas to tend to as well. It would be nice if the Air Force had more of a Spartan, "Go get 'em" mentality like the Marines and the Army instead of drawing up large wish lists for jets like an F-22 which are ineffective in the current military environment. I guess that's what happens when an Air Force man is your Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, expect something different if Marine General Pete Pace gets the job.