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December 14, 2009
AFA Responds to Newsweek Article
Arlington, VA – Newsweek columnist John Barry’s piece, “Bye-Bye Bomber?” refers to a recent study by The General Billy Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies that calls for the gradual shift to “a nuclear dyad of missiles and submarines while phasing out bombers.” The Mitchell report and the discussion of it on 10 Dec 09, “Triad, Dyad, Monad?” strongly supports the need for a new bomber, either manned or unmanned, and that it should be designed for nuclear operations, but verifiable only as a conventional bomber. The B-2 force would retain the ability to conduct the nuclear mission.
In the article, Mr. Barry incorrectly indicates the study was published by the Air Force Association (AFA). The Mitchell Institute is an independent research organization that was founded by AFA to foster academic debate on key airpower issues.
The Newsweek column also mistakenly identifies AFA as a lobbying organization for the Air Force. AFA is proud to support the Air Force, in keeping with our chartered mission, but is distinct from government lobbying. In fact, AFA is an independent association whose mission is to educate the American public about the critical role of airpower to the defense of our nation, advocate for a strong national defense and support the Air Force, the Air Force family, and Aerospace Education.
The Air Force Association realizes that not everyone shares the same point of view on every subject. AFA remains on record in its 2010 Statement of Policy in support of continued research and development of new long range strike capability to eventually replace aging aircraft, and fully supports the Air Force effort to reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise.
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The AFA is a 501(C)(3), nonprofit organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA has over 200 chapters nationally and internationally representing 120,000 members. Visit AFA www.AFA.org.
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