The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a defense think tank, held a Capitol Hill seminar on Nov. 10 (DR, 11/11/05). One glow-in-the dark CSBA recommendation was that the Air Force should reduce spending on fighters in favor of other systems, including long-range bombers. CSBA’s Michael Vickes noted that USAF’s fleet comprises mostly nonstealthy B-52 and B-1B aircraft. He produced this graphic (click to enlarge). Note, however, that the chart begins in 1999. That leaves out the heavy investment in the B-2 and B-1B bombers in the 1980s and 1990s. Also, the sand chart includes Navy as well as Air Force fighters. Distorts the case a little bit.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
