Air Force general reprimanded over A-10 'treason' remark

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

US | Fri Apr 10, 2015 11:33am EDT

Air Force general reprimanded over A-10 'treason' remark

WASHINGTON | BY DAVID ALEXANDER

(Reuters) - An Air Force major general has been formally reprimanded and removed from his job for telling a group of officers that talking to Congress in a bid to block retirement of the A-10 Warthog amounted to "treason," the Air Force said on Friday.

An investigation of remarks by Major General James Post III, who was the vice commander of Air Combat Command, found that his words to some 300 airmen at Nellis Air Force Base on Jan. 10 may have had a "chilling effect" on some of them, convincing them not to speak with lawmakers.

The incident added fuel to a controversy over efforts to retire the low-flying, tank-killer aircraft, which is highly regarded by ground troops for its ability to provide close air support.

The plane has strong supporters among members of Congress who have so far successfully blocked efforts to retire it.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/10/us-usa-defense-reprimand-idUSKBN0N11LT20150410

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. He got what he deserved.

There is no aircraft in the world that does the Job the A-10 performs, but violation of the rights of a citizen to address the government is inexcusable.

[TexasProgresive]

2. No aircraft can do what the A-10 does

not even the alleged joint strike force F-35. I say alleged because I am beginning to doubt it will ever be deployed. It is worth too much money to ever leave development.

[Adsos Letter]

3. And the F-35 would prove to be a nightmare

In terms of maintainance from what I have read.
The A-10 is exceptionally effective in its simplicity.

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. The F-35 is a stealth fighter, but I have not seen that it is intended for a close air support role.

And, it is incredibly expensive compared to an A-10.

[TexasProgresive]

5. There is this article-maybe it's not accurate.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/01/a-10-f-35-air-force-budget
A-10 vs. F-35: The Air Force's Latest Budget Bungle

—By Adam Weinstein
| Mon Jan. 30, 2012 2:50 PM EST
Military traditionalists and aviation fan boys, you might need to sit down for this: In its zeal to stay relevant and (sort of) save bucks, America's flying corps is ridding itself of some of its cheapest, most reliable attack jets in favor of an overpriced, underperforming boondoggle of an aircraft.

The Air Force announced plans on Friday to cut five squadrons of A-10 attack jets (as well as a number of cargo aircraft) in the hopes that they'll ultimately be replaced by the notoriously expensive F-35 fighter program.