After spending 22 years in the Air Force, first as an Electronic Warfare Officer in the B-52, a Weapon Systems Officer in the RF-4, and on the Air Staff at the Pentagon, I am very concerned that the USAF (United States Air Force), in the near future, will not be able to meet the threats from possible adversaries such as China. 

The USAF has controlled the skies since the Korean War.  I read that since 1953, not one member of the US military has lost his or her life because of an enemy air force dropping a weapon from the air.  That is proof that the USAF has maintained air superiority since its birth  in 1947.

When the USAF goes to war, we do not believe in a fair fight.  We go to war with the best aircraft in the world and the world’s best-trained aircrews.  The USAF’s mission is to shoot down all enemy aircraft before they become a threat.  Even better, they like to destroy enemy aircraft before they have a chance to become airborne.  During Desert Storm the Iraqi Air Force was afraid to take the USAF on in the air.  Many Iraqi aircraft never got airborne, and the ones that did flew their aircraft to Iran.  Because of precision weapons, USAF aircraft can put a weapon through a window in a building.  The USAF has the ability to locate and target any moving threat.  If it can be seen, it can be destroyed.

While this all sounds good, things are changing.  The USAF has been at war for the last 17 years in the Middle East.  The USAF never came home at the end of Desert Storm.  This has created enormous stress on our fighters, bombers, transport, tankers, and support aircraft.  The Clinton and Bush Administrations have failed to provide the money to procure enough new aircraft that will guarantee that the USAF will continue to dominate both air and space.

The F-15, our air superiority fighter, is over 30 years old.  Recently the entire fleet was grounded because an airplane came apart in the air during a training mission.  Luckily the pilot was able to eject.  The multi-role F-16 is suffering fatigue problems.  Sixty plus B-52s make up the bulk of the USAF bomber force with the last aircraft coming off the production line in 1962.  Our KC-135’s are over 40 years old.  I have not even mentioned the sad state of our airlift aircraft. 

The F-22 is operational and will eventually replace the F-15.  The F-35 is still in development and will replace the F-16, A-10, and F-117. 

Who knows what the actual F-35 numbers will end up being?  Congress has authorized only 183 F-22s.  The USAF is requesting a minimum of 383 aircraft. 

The Chinese are looking to challenge the USAF in the Pacific.  The Russians are flying bomber missions towards the US coastline again, a throw back to the cold war days. 

President Clinton and President Bush have not provided the leadership or funding required for the USAF to maintain its overwhelming superiority in the future.  The Republican Congress also let the country down by not providing the necessary funding to modernize the USAF.  Today’s Democratic controlled Congress has also let us down.  What can we do to reverse this trend so we continue to own the air and space in any future conflict?  We must elect people to Congress that understand the current condition of the USAF.

Lets start with the 4^th Congressional District.  Congressman John Doolittle has done very little to help out the USAF.  JTD was more interested in helping his good friend Jack Abramoff, with issues in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and with Indian casinos.  One must think very hard about returning JTD to Washington.  Does he deserve our support? 

Next we have Ted ‘in my pocket” Gaines who would like to replace JTD in Washington.  Gaines would be a worse choice than returning JTD to Washington.  Gaines cannot be trusted.  He stabbed JTD in the back.  If it were not for JTD, Gaines would have never been elected as a county supervisor, let alone to the California Assembly.  Ted Gaines is actually a liberal when it comes to education.  He is a supporter of the California Teacher’s Association and does not support the right of parents to send their kids to charter schools.  I do not see Ted helping out the USAF if he was elected to Congress.  Remember his Chief of Staff told me that Ted is making his sacrifice by serving in the legislature.  He continuous to make that 30 minute sacrifice driving 20 miles from his house in Roseville to the state capital so he can collect his $175 a day per diem.  Maybe Ted should of thought about serving his country by joining the Reserves.  But his supporters would say, he is already making a sacrifice by buying his seat to the legislature with JTD’s support while collecting his $100K+ salary and his per diem.

Finally we have Major/congressional candidate Eric Egland.  Make sure you know which Eric Egland you are talking about, the Air Force Reservist or the candidate.  It is hard to tell the difference.  When compared to JTD and Ted “in my pocket” Gaines, Egland looks like a hero.  He is a hero to a point.  He has worn the uniform, a sacrifice that JTD or Gaines would never understand.  However, he is another back stabber just like Gaines.  Egland also supported JTD during the last election.  Is he another opportunist like Gaines?  Egland should know more about what is going on in the USAF than most.  I have never heard provide any details on how he would improve the USAF.  In fact, I have never heard him provide any ideas or support for anything he would do if elected to Congress. 

Democrat Charlie Brown, with over a half of million dollars in the bank will be a very strong candidate.  While, I have not come out to support Charlie Brown, one must look at his military record.  He is a graduate of the Air Force Academy.  He was a search and rescue army pilot in Vietnam.  He had one of the most dangerous jobs during the war.  He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (Something JTD and Gaines would not understand.  Could Gaines earn a medal for driving his 20 miles on Interstate 80 to the state capital to collect his per diem?)  Brown served in Desert Storm.  His son is a C-130 pilot flying missions in Iraq.  I would assume Charlie knows something about the USAF.  What real sacrifices have JTD and Gaines done for their country?

The Republicans have some very poor choices when looking for a candidate to represent us in the 4^th Congressional district.