In his Apr 24^th article, Air Force Pinched by Iraq Ground War, AP writer Tom Raum notes that the Air Force's top general expressed frustration with the reassignment of Airmen under his command to ground jobs for which they were not trained, ranging from guarding prisoners to driving trucks and typing.

Gen. Michael Moseley, the Air Force chief of staff, said that over 20,000 airmen have been assigned worldwide into roles outside their specialties (AFSCs).

With President Bush and Congress in a standoff over Iraq spending, the Pentagon is shifting money among services and accounts, including drawing down funds earmarked for other later purposes.

Major Hanafin’s comment: For those who do not understand “the military budget and funding process” it works in 5 years increments or out years. That is what is meant by “funds earmarked for other later purposes” above. Example: President Bush’s threat to veto Congress’ defense supplement and blame Congress for not supporting our troops has very little BITE in it except on the POLITICAL STAGE. Regardless IF Bush vetoes the troop spending bill or not, the Pentagon will just move funds around taking money from the Navy slated to build a ship or Air Force slated to build or upgrade a few air craft and give that R & D or weapon system construction money to the Army to fight the War in Iraq NOW.

THAT is what really has General Moseley pissed off not the fact that a few Airmen may end up getting whacked.  The bodies he can afford to lose, it is the weapon systems that is his emphasis READ ON!

The General said he was trying to be realistic. "We live in a joint world. We live in a military that's at war. And we live in a situation where, if we can contribute, then sign me up for it."

Still, the Air Force general added, "I'm less supportive of things outside our competency."

He said people were being assigned to jobs they weren't trained for. He cited Air Force airmen being used to guard prisoners and to serve as drivers and cited one instance in which an Air Force surgeon was assigned typing chores after three days at her new post.

Major Hanafin’s comment: How come the Air Force waited what four years to START complaining? Bush should fire his ass NOT for complaining, but for taking so long to do it, and the example the General uses of an Air Force surgeon being assigned typing duties has got to be an exception to the rule, and for someone desiring to “live in a joint world and be signed up” sure uses one sad case to publicly embarrass THE ARMY! Not that our ARMY/AIR FORCE military family gives a shit, JUST MAKING A POINT HERE!

Others are being assigned to help the Army provide security in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Moseley said he didn't mind the use of airmen as drivers as much as some of the other new duties usually performed by the Army, such as guarding prisoners.

"Not only do we not have a prison, but very rarely do we have anybody in prison," he joked.

Major Hanafin’s comment: Ditto my comment above about disrespect toward another service during wartime. Keep in mind also which services have thus far provided the most support to President Bush because of THE FACT they have not been engaged? You got it the very services that NOW mock the Army.

"So, to take our people and train them to be a detainee-guarding entity requires `x' amount of time away from their normal job," said Moseley.

"Those are the things that are very frustrating," he said.

He said the swap-outs come at a time when the Air Force's budget is burdened, when there is little money for new aircraft and when maintaining an aging fleet of older planes, some of them going back to the 1950s and 1960s, is getting increasingly expensive.

"Operational and maintenance costs have gone up 180 percent over the past 10 years, operating these old aircraft," he said.

As part of Bush's troop buildup in order to try to secure Baghdad and nearby hot spots, there are currently about 146,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

Moseley said the Air Force still has vital responsibilities in Iraq, including striking targets, surveillance and search and rescue missions.

The Pentagon says it has enough money to pay for the Iraq war through June. The Army is taking "prudent measures" aimed at ensuring that delays in the bill financing the war do not harm troop readiness, such as moving money from other accounts, according to instructions sent to Army commanders and budget officials April 14.

The $70 billion that Congress provided in September for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has mostly run out, and the Army has told department officials to slow the purchase of nonessential repair parts and other supplies, restrict the use of government charge cards and limit travel.

On another subject, Moseley said he had ordered a review of vulnerabilities of U.S. military satellites, partially in response to China's anti-missile test in January, in which it used a missile to destroy one of its own old weather satellites. He said he found China's move alarming. China's motives remain unclear, but demonstrating that it can shoot down one of its own satellites also suggests it could knock another nation's satellites out of the sky if it chose, which Moseley said would be widely seen as an act of war.

Major Hanafin’s comment: This is not frustration folks, this is DESPARATION. Here we have two services the Navy and Air Force with no real glory or mission (except for the Marine Corp) in Iraq desperately looking for A WAR, ANY WAR to justify their existence and need for expensive weapon systems at a time when President Bush has mortgaged our children’s future and theirs to pay for the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Getting something going with North Korea a no go, still trying to instigate Iran into war, and now Air Force General Moseley wants to convince us that China poses such a threat that could be seen as an act of war on the horizon. WE NOW HAVE A NUTTY AIR FORCE GENERAL SABRE RATTLING AT CHINA WITH THE LARGEST GROUND FORCE ON EARTH BAR NONE – AHHHHHHHHHHH!

Have news for YOU General Moseley, Communist China (and I say this as a wise financial investor not some half-wit, ignorant Nationalist) has already invaded us, and conquered us without firing a shot. You sir need to get off your Air Force Base more into reality and visit your nearest Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Meijers, Target, hell take a closer look at some of the manufacterer labels on products at your Naval Exchange and see where they are made - NOT IN AMERICA!

Federal News Radio

http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=78&sid=1123651

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/04/25/ap3650757.html

Robert L. Hanafin

Specialist-5, U.S. Army (69-76)

Major, U.S. Air Force - Retired (77-94)

Military Families Speak Out – Ohio