Pentagon: Are They Nuts?
In 1961, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President, said this: “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex… Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.”
In AvWeek & Space Technology magazine, October 13, 014, three news items caught my attention. Two have the potential, indeed likelihood, of upsetting the balance of spending and military influence in the USA. The third, well, the third is just plain stupid and greedy.
First, a strategic bomber, a Long Range Strategic Bomber (LRS-B) is in planning. Citing the “sadly reduced” numbers of B-2 bombers built (from 132 to “only 21” aircraft costing $72 billion in 1988 dollars), the Pentagon is pressing ahead for a new bomber, a program spearheaded by US Strategic Command vice chief Lt. Gen. James Kowalski who is on record as saying that the public was receiving the right amount of information on these plans. That is to say, nothing. Budget? Classified. Rumors? Development of prototype around $50 billion. Cost if they get Congressional approval? Somewhere north of $9 billion per plane over 10 year’s operational use. Planes expected to be considered “desperately needed?” As many as they can get their hands on. Certainly more than the paltry B-2 fulfillment of only 21 planes. If they were to get, say, 100 LRS-Bs, that’s only about a trillion.
Second, the Air Force and the Navy have decided that the F-35 fighter – you know the one, the plane they promised would serve all three branches perfectly, combining all the capabilities they needed – well, apparently the F-35 is no longer the cat’s meow. According to Col. Tom Coglitore, who is the chief of Air Combat Command Air Superiority Core Function Team, the answer is a brand new fighter called the F-X which is currently in development. What? You thought they would not lie about the F-35? What? You thought they would not be able to find hidden cash to build prototypes and plan on new expensive programs? What? You thought Congress was keeping a watchful eye? And I’ll bet you believe in Tooth Fairies as well.
Anyway, apparently the $300 billion development of the F-35 ($300 billion which does not include real costs, just building the basic planes) “does not always fit all the Pentagon’s needs. “ So a next generation fighter needed to be developed, called the F-X. And when did they decide this? In 2008! “That’s when we started identifying what our requirements might be,” Col. Coglitore said. Included in their research are directed energy weapons, artificial intelligence and a host of stealth upgrades. None of these will come cheaply. And those budgets are top secret.
The Pentagon boys need their toys. So much for the balance Eisenhower – a military man, a strong Republican – said was in the best interests of the country. “Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry… now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions… We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations… The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government…. we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.”
And the third item, one of stupidity: Jet Blue is a profitable airline, attracting a devoted customer base. Last year they made a net profit of $128 million. Wall Street wants more. So they have canned the CEO Dave Barger and installed a British Airways’ departed director, Robin Hayes, who promptly agreed with Wall Street to change the seats on each plane from 150 to 180. His task? “To focus less on passengers and more on profits.” Good job boys (especially the Scrooge boys at Cowen & Co who advised Jet Blue’s sitting board of Wall Street money junkies) – Way to go, way to ruin an airline.
