Sunday, April 11, 2004 5:46:10 PM
Sun Apr 11, 1:19 PM ET
By Jim Wolf
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon (news - web sites) may have to scrap its premier fighter jet program to help pay for the war in Iraq (news - web sites), Sen. John McCain, an influential member of the Armed Services Committee, said on Sunday.
"It's obvious that we're paying a heavy price, I think, for not having had enough troops there from the beginning," the Arizona Republican said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
McCain said both the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps must be expanded overall, a position at odds with President Bush (news - web sites)'s administration. The United States has about 135,000 troops in Iraq, a number that McCain, an influential member of the Armed Services Committee, said must rise.
As part of a broad overhaul of U.S. priorities, he said, the Pentagon may have to scrap the $71 billion Air Force program to buy F/A-22 air-to-air fighters built by Lockheed Martin Corp. .
"We may have to cancel this airplane that's going to cost between $250 million and $300 million a copy," said McCain, floating what could become a major new legislative hurdle to a top Air Force priority.
McCain led a drive that stalled what has become a $23.5 billion plan to lease up to 20 and buy up to 80 modified Boeing Co. 767s as mid-air refueling tankers. The plan is on hold pending reviews due next month at the Pentagon.
"We've got to change the way we do business and put the priority where it belongs," McCain said. "And that is making sure that we succeed in Iraq."
Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, chairman of the Intelligence committee, said the United States needed more specially trained forces in Iraq.
"People that are in there have to know what the heck we're doing," Roberts said on the CBS program Face the Nation. "If we do have those troops, yes, let's send them."
The Air Force hopes to buy at least 277 F/A-22 fighters, which it describes as key to dominating the skies in future combat. It is about to enter operational testing en route to replacing the F-15C.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has resisted calls for any lasting increase in the U.S. occupation force in Iraq and argued against permanently boosting the size of U.S. armed forces unless sought by military commanders themselves.
Last week, Rumsfeld said the Pentagon may postpone the departure of some troops supposed to be heading home now. The Pentagon originally had planned to decrease the numbers to about 115,000 in coming months.
Recent AAPL News
- Trump Media Resells Stocks and Warrants; KB Home Exceeds Q2 Expectations, and More News • IH Market News • 06/20/2024 10:55:11 AM
- Apple The Exchange TRX to welcome its first customers this Saturday, June 22, in Kuala Lumpur • Business Wire • 06/20/2024 02:00:00 AM
- Nvidia Overtakes Microsoft To Become World’s Most Valuable Company • IH Market News • 06/19/2024 09:32:08 AM
- Fisker Files for Bankruptcy, Chegg Stocks Rise on 23% Workforce Reduction, and More • IH Market News • 06/18/2024 11:02:13 AM
- Goldman Sachs Raises S&P 500 Forecast for 2024; Disney Secures Deadpool & Wolverine in Chinese Cinemas, and More • IH Market News • 06/17/2024 10:49:12 AM
- Adobe Soars 15% Pre-Market; Visa and Mastercard Encounter Hurdles in $30 Billion Agreement, and More • IH Market News • 06/14/2024 11:21:47 AM
- Tesla Surges 5% in Pre-Market; Virgin Galactic Drops 9% Following Reverse Stock Split, and More News • IH Market News • 06/13/2024 11:24:25 AM
- Tamer Than Expected Inflation Data May Spark Early Rally On Wall Street • IH Market News • 06/12/2024 01:07:00 PM
- Paramount Ends Skydance Talks, Oracle Shares Surge 8.7% on New Partnerships, and More News • IH Market News • 06/12/2024 11:19:10 AM
- U.S. Futures Rise on Fed Decision; Oil Gains on Demand Forecasts • IH Market News • 06/12/2024 11:13:28 AM
- Nasdaq, S&P 500 Recover From Early Weakness To Reach Record Highs • IH Market News • 06/11/2024 08:49:55 PM
- FDA Panel Supports Eli Lilly’s Donanemab, Rio Tinto Expands Stake in Boyne Smelters, and More News • IH Market News • 06/11/2024 11:11:40 AM
- Apple extends its privacy leadership with new updates across its platforms • Business Wire • 06/10/2024 09:40:00 PM
- Apple empowers developers and fuels innovation with new tools and resources • Business Wire • 06/10/2024 09:00:00 PM
- macOS Sequoia takes productivity and intelligence on Mac to new heights • Business Wire • 06/10/2024 06:43:00 PM
- watchOS 11 brings powerful health and fitness insights, and even more personalization and connectivity • Business Wire • 06/10/2024 06:43:00 PM
- iPadOS 18 introduces powerful new intelligence features and apps designed for Apple Pencil • Business Wire • 06/10/2024 06:43:00 PM
- iOS 18 makes iPhone more personal, capable, and intelligent than ever • Business Wire • 06/10/2024 06:43:00 PM
- Introducing Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that puts powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac • Business Wire • 06/10/2024 06:43:00 PM
- visionOS 2 brings new spatial computing experiences to Apple Vision Pro • Business Wire • 06/10/2024 06:43:00 PM
- Updates to the Home experience elevate entertainment and bring more convenience • Business Wire • 06/10/2024 05:37:00 PM
- Apple Vision Pro arrives in new countries and regions beginning June 28 • Business Wire • 06/10/2024 05:14:00 PM
- Apple Showcases AI at WWDC 2024, Nvidia Stock Split Starts Today, and More News • IH Market News • 06/10/2024 11:29:44 AM
- GME Volatile as Roaring Kitty Goes Live Today, Meta Unveils AI for WhatsApp Ads, and More • IH Market News • 06/07/2024 12:09:15 PM
- Nvidia Becomes 2nd Most Valuable Company in the USA, ASML Takes 2nd Spot in Europe, and More News • IH Market News • 06/06/2024 11:34:59 AM
Last Shot Hydration Drink Announced as Official Sponsor of Red River Athletic Conference • EQLB • Jun 20, 2024 2:38 PM
ATWEC Announces Major Acquisition and Lays Out Strategic Growth Plans • ATWT • Jun 20, 2024 7:09 AM
North Bay Resources Announces Composite Assays of 0.53 and 0.44 Troy Ounces per Ton Gold in Trenches B + C at Fran Gold, British Columbia • NBRI • Jun 18, 2024 9:18 AM
VAYK Assembling New Management Team for $64 Billion Domestic Market • VAYK • Jun 18, 2024 9:00 AM
Fifty 1 Labs, Inc Announces Acquisition of Drago Knives, LLC • CAFI • Jun 18, 2024 8:45 AM
Hydromer Announces Attainment of ISO 13485 Certification • HYDI • Jun 17, 2024 9:22 AM