OK, This will be a rant (and I bet I'm gonna stir up some ^%[email protected]). Please know it is not directed at any one or their opinion. I just want a place to say my piece and it feels right to do it here:
If China, or any other country, could fly a sophisticated intelligence aircraft anywhere near our boarders we would all be up in arms. Fact is it still happens all the time, planes and trawlers and subs from other countries test the borders and we watch them closely. SEVERAL times over the years our fighters and Russian aircraft have flown some very close formations and once in a while they bumped. This is nothing new, but landing your damaged expensive top-secret aircraft in a hostile foreign country is a first. I can't believe that was the appropriate and planned manner of dealing with this scenario. Bail, ditch, destroy and wait for pickup would be the more correct approach. It's also incredibly stupid to believe they should hold our spy plane secure and untouched, we certainly would not.
I suggest that the best course of action is to publicly apologize to both the Chinese government and their people. WHATEVER IT TAKES to get our people home and screw the lost technology, that should have been considered long ago.
My thought is that IF you intend to send our people in harms way then you had better have the guts to arm and defend them. I think if it is necessary to fly surveillance flights and gather intelligence in that manner that we should also send some escorts. If we can fly a P3 in international airspace, sending along a CAP of F-14s and a tanker should be no problem. They already know your there, that P3 ain't stealth technology. The precedence is already set, we CAP our major Naval assets all the time and enforce strict "NO FLY" zones.
I submit this was a screw-up and we should rethink the need for this type of risk, and if it is deemed necessary then do it right. Some third world "Maverick" shouldn't be able to get within bumber-car range. Or if we don't want to protect our people at least train them to ditch and destroy and be ready to pick them up quickly.
Just my $.02, but this saber rattling crap ONLY AFTER and ONLY BECAUSE we screwed up again just turns my stomach. I think George W. should get on his knees and beg for the safe and swift return of that crew, and never put anyone in that position again. We've got a lot of families here in Washington and all over the country praying for the safe return of sons and daughters. What if it were your daughters George? Don't turn this into another Pueblo.
By the way, George W. is no better or worse than any of the rest have ever been. If you seek that office for power and fame you will quickly learn to eat crow and take the blame for whatever happens on your watch. Now we get to see how he deals with pressure, so far I am not impressed.
I'd also like to suggest, well before it happens again, that the president should have to spend a day alone at The Wall and read the names and reflect before ever sending anyone anywhere for any reason. It's little to ask that such a precious currency be spent only after sober reflection.
Webb
If China, or any other country, could fly a sophisticated intelligence aircraft anywhere near our boarders we would all be up in arms. Fact is it still happens all the time, planes and trawlers and subs from other countries test the borders and we watch them closely. SEVERAL times over the years our fighters and Russian aircraft have flown some very close formations and once in a while they bumped. This is nothing new, but landing your damaged expensive top-secret aircraft in a hostile foreign country is a first. I can't believe that was the appropriate and planned manner of dealing with this scenario. Bail, ditch, destroy and wait for pickup would be the more correct approach. It's also incredibly stupid to believe they should hold our spy plane secure and untouched, we certainly would not.
I suggest that the best course of action is to publicly apologize to both the Chinese government and their people. WHATEVER IT TAKES to get our people home and screw the lost technology, that should have been considered long ago.
My thought is that IF you intend to send our people in harms way then you had better have the guts to arm and defend them. I think if it is necessary to fly surveillance flights and gather intelligence in that manner that we should also send some escorts. If we can fly a P3 in international airspace, sending along a CAP of F-14s and a tanker should be no problem. They already know your there, that P3 ain't stealth technology. The precedence is already set, we CAP our major Naval assets all the time and enforce strict "NO FLY" zones.
I submit this was a screw-up and we should rethink the need for this type of risk, and if it is deemed necessary then do it right. Some third world "Maverick" shouldn't be able to get within bumber-car range. Or if we don't want to protect our people at least train them to ditch and destroy and be ready to pick them up quickly.
Just my $.02, but this saber rattling crap ONLY AFTER and ONLY BECAUSE we screwed up again just turns my stomach. I think George W. should get on his knees and beg for the safe and swift return of that crew, and never put anyone in that position again. We've got a lot of families here in Washington and all over the country praying for the safe return of sons and daughters. What if it were your daughters George? Don't turn this into another Pueblo.
By the way, George W. is no better or worse than any of the rest have ever been. If you seek that office for power and fame you will quickly learn to eat crow and take the blame for whatever happens on your watch. Now we get to see how he deals with pressure, so far I am not impressed.
I'd also like to suggest, well before it happens again, that the president should have to spend a day alone at The Wall and read the names and reflect before ever sending anyone anywhere for any reason. It's little to ask that such a precious currency be spent only after sober reflection.
Webb
