Is the Air Force essential or outdated?

[Zaphod]

<p>

Farley said a military service can be independent only if it can plan and win a war essentially on its own. The Army, with the addition of more air assets, can pass this test, he says, as can the Navy, which has its own ground component in the Marines.</p>

<p>The Air Force, Farley said, cannot and could not win a war on its own.

</p>

<p>Well, in all fairness to my USAF (former) comrades, I have to say that Mr. Farely is full of it.</p>

<p>First off, his assertion that a military service should be able to win a war on its own is foolish. Each service has its area of expertise, and the strength of our military comes from those services being able to work together.</p>

<p>While it makes sense from a logical point to standardize everything (and using that argument, we could ditch both the Army and the Air Force and just keep the Navy/Marine Corps Team), the practicality just isn’t there.</p>

<p>The USAF excels in military airlift, strategic strike, air superiority, and space command and control. To burden the Army or the Navy/Marine Corps with those functions would give only administrative benefits (at best), and the loss of operational effectiveness would far overshadow that.</p>

<p>Besides, the USAF is so much fun to make fun of! :D</p>

<p>My two cents. :)</p>