Among the items included in the Pentagon’s supplemental funding request for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan is nearly $400 million for two F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and an additional $146 million for one CV-22 Osprey. The Air Force request explained that the F-35s would replace one F-15 and one F-16 lost in combat operations. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne, the contents of which were first reported by Politico.com, McCain knocked the request:
What I find most troubling about the request is that for $400 million, the Air Force could have requested an F-22, which is a far superior aircraft and is already in production. Also, the F-35, especially the Air Force variant, should cost no more than $50 million each. The whole purpose of the F-35 was to provide the Air Force with an affordable alternative to the F-22. If it stops being affordable, than there isn’t much point to the program. Which all just proves McCain’s point–major military procurement programs require a great deal of Congressional oversight. McCain’s letter is also just good politics, making clear that he is fulfilling his responsibilities as ranking member of the Armed Services Committee despite the rigors of his campaign for president. John Kerry was criticized for his prolonged absences from the Senate during his run for president. And as I mentioned here before, Senator Clinton is on no less than five Senate committees, including the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. It will be interesting to see if she follows McCain’s letter with one of her own, just to let the public know that she, too, can find the time to fulfill her responsibilities in the Senate–that she doesn’t devote all her time to fending off criticism from the likes of David Geffen.
