How Quickly We Forget

How Quickly We Forget: Policy wonks at Congressional Research Service in a March 16 report to Congress offer an overview of current tactical aviation plans and analysis—more of a point-counterpoint recitation of views—about “key issues.” The issues, per CRS, include one called “service roles and missions,” which concludes with this point: The war in Afghanistan in 2001 “highlighted the importance of carrier-based aviation.” We disagree, considering that 70 percent of the ordnance dropped came from USAF bombers. And, carrier-based fighters were no less dependent on aerial refueling than were USAF fighters when it came to fighting over land-locked Afghanistan. (Read our July 2002 article “In Defense of Fighters.”)