A Gap in Our Air Defenses
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A Dec. 22 front-page article, "Structural Flaws May Ground Older F-15s Indefinitely," detailing the grounding of aging F-15 fighter jets and the issue of whether to purchase more of the new F-22 Raptor fighters, gave me great cause for concern.
As mayor of Vancouver, Wash., I believe that the most important issue this or any other administration should concern itself with is the protection of the homeland. Here in the Pacific Northwest, that protection is provided by the Oregon Air National Guard, but its F-15s are grounded.
The article quoted Winslow Wheeler, an analyst at the Center for Defense Information, as saying that the F-15s' structural problems are "no big deal" and that the solution is just to "fix it." That is appalling.
Given the condition of the F-15s, there should be no debate about what position to take. Our young warriors, many of whom live in my city, willingly place themselves between us and those who would do our country great harm. We have the responsibility to provide them what is clearly the best fighter for the defense of America, the F-22.
ROYCE E. POLLARD
Vancouver, Wash.
