AFA Response to Time Magazine

To the Editor:

In the April 22 article “Why the Air Force bugs Gates,” Mark Thompson cites a key statistic – that the last time a U.S. soldier on the ground was killed by enemy airpower was in the 1950s in Korea and the last time a U.S. fighter was out-dueled in the air was in Vietnam decades ago – and then completely misses the point. Far from the suggestion that Air Force victories are old history, this is an unparalleled achievement and the strongest argument possible for the value of maintaining American airpower. This remarkable track record continues even as the U.S. Air Force has been continuously engaged in the Gulf region for nearly 18 years. We should be seeking to ensure that this track record of protecting our soldiers from enemy airpower continues for the next half-century.

Lt. Gen. Mike Dunn (Ret.)
President, Air Force Association

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