Two weeks ago, the Obama administration went out of its way to kill the F-22, a plane that was coveted by both Israel and Japan. In an evaluation of the Obama administration's defense budget cuts, Brig. Gen. Thomas C. Pinckney (Ret.), a fighter pilot for more than 30 years, explains what we all lost when the Obama administration cajoled Congress into canceling the F-22. 
At the Weekly Standard blog, John Noonan links this article from the Washington Post about the length to which the Obama administration went to try to kill funding for the F-22 raptor fighter jet (pictured). Noonan then asks why the administration fought so furiously against the jet. Israel Matzav: Why Obama killed the F-22Raising an objection to F-22 acquisition is one thing, launching a Napoleonic campaign -- over the objections of both Congress and the military -- is excessive. There were some serious, deeply intelligent strategic thinkers who had some equally serious, intelligent justifications for building a larger fleet of Raptors. Considering the fighter's admittedly steep price is but a drop in the health care/stimulus bucket, it's a little hard to believe the administration's only motivation was to eliminate waste in the defense budget.
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Mackenzie Eaglen on why canceling the F-22 is bad for America (aside from promises to Israel and Japan and 95,000 lost jobs in a recession). Air Force leaders have repeatedly testified they need 243 F-22s to maintain air superiority. The purchase of only 187 would leave the Air Force able to fly unchallenged in only one theater, not two. Led by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the Pentagon is budgeting on the assumption that future U.S. military operations will resemble those of today, i.e., they will be dominated by counterinsurgency and irregular warfare.
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Israel Matzav: The wrong move on F-22's
Facing a veto threat from 'America's popular President,' the US Senate has voted 58-40 to remove funding for the F-22 Raptor from the armed services appropriation bill. Israel Matzav: Facing veto threat, Senate removes F-22 fundingThe F-22, the world’s most advanced fighter, had become a flashpoint in a larger battle over the administration’s push to shift more of the Pentagon’s resources from conventional warfare to fighting insurgencies.
The plane’s supporters, who ranged from hawkish Republicans to Democrats close to organized labor, also voiced concern over the possible loss of high-paying manufacturing jobs at a time when the economy is in turmoil.Read All at :
Ed Timperlake argues that the despite the Obama administration's desire to cut off production of the F-22 Raptor fighter plane (pictured) it should nevertheless be provided to Israel and Japan as a debt of honor. Israel Matzav: A debt of honor: The F-22 to Israel and JapanAmerica, Israel and Japan are now at a crossroad. America may not be able to sell an export version of the best fighter in the world, the F-22, to Israel and Japan. The reason is the Administration's current insistence on holding fast to a DOD-budgeted production run of F-22s that will stop soon at 187. The harsh reality of stopping F-22 production will be two American allies who are in increasing mortal danger will not have access to the absolute best when they really need America's help.
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