However, and I don’t know this for certain, but I would expect, if asked, that the guys who flew combat sorties in Iraq in 91 and 2003, as well as the guys who are currently cruising off the coast of e.g., Korea or Taiwan, not knowing what tomorrow may bring, would firmly state that they are glad they were then, or are now, flying F-14′s, 15′s, 16′s and 18s, rather than some gussied up version of an 1960 F-4 Phantom.

Even if we would adopt what some posters here advocate – which is to essentially disarm ourselves so that we can no longer ever have any sort of overseas military engagements, and just maintain a bare-bones continental self defense force….If my son volunteered, I would still want the air defense aircraft he flew in, to be higher tech and superior to the next most advanced platform made anywhere else, by either friend or foe.

Just my opinion.

Perhaps we should start calling it a “useful illusion” instead. While it does not in any way improve the economy, it clearly does wonders for those public servants crafty enough to use it.