Verbatim

Need to Modernize

I think the Ukrainians are right—you’re basically a target in the air if you don’t have any of that modern capability. It’s not just an airplane up there. You have to have all of that sophisticated equipment on it to make it really a viable air platform.Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle, USAF (Ret.), former commander of ACC, on the Ukrainian Air Force using old jets to fight against a better-equipped, modern Russian air force [The Washington Post, April 13].

We’d Rather Not

We’re ready to be killed. But we don’t want this, of course. We want to kill Russians and take down their bombers that are killing our cities and our families.

Ukraine Air Force pilot “Juice” (only call sign provided for security reasons), on the Ukrainian Air Force’s fighting against a more modern Russian air force [The Washington Post, April 13].

Speaking My Language

Ukraine just demonstrates even more, what matters to these guys is presence and power. And when you start to build ports, when you start to bring up icebreakers, when you start to bring up Navy shipping, when you have over 100 fifth-gen fighters in the Arctic in Alaska, we’re starting to now talk Putin’s language.Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), on strengthening U.S. military presence in Alaska [The New York Times, March 29].

Well Connected

This is a conflict that’s playing out for millions of people on social media. That wouldn’t happen without an Internet connection.Doug Madory, Kentik director of Internet analysis, comment on resilience of Ukraine’s internet despite Russian cyberattacks [The Washington Post, March 29].

Joined at the Hip

Ultimately, the success of the Space Force will be determined by how our contribution to the joint and combined team fight is valued by other members of the team. … They need us; we need to help them understand that fact. We won’t achieve that goal if we focus too much on the separateness and independence of space as independent warfighting domain.Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall speaking at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., on April 5.

Above and Beyond

Warrior culture is required to make this strategy possible … unleashing and empowering incredible Airmen and families biased toward action, unencumbered by bureaucracy, and intentionally disruptive to the status quo. We will tolerate nothing less. … I need you bothered, like me, to work harder, move faster, and passionately enable our operational wings to make our missions and people more successful.Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, speaking to Mobility Air Forces leaders outlining his “strategy to win” during a Spring Phoenix Rally, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., March 29.

Light Years

It is no longer one small step. It’s not even just one giant leap, it is the promise of a transformed world.Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Stacey A. Dixon, referring to the space domain, Space Symposium, Colorado Springs, Colo., April 4.