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<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nChief Tango sends us an Associated Press<\/a> link that announces that the A-10 Thunderbolt, lovingly called the Warthog, will be around for longer than we thought it would a year or two ago;<\/p>\n In the 2018 Pentagon budget plan sent to Congress this week, the Air Force proposed to keep all 283 A-10s flying for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n Three years ago, the Pentagon proposed scrapping the fleet for what it estimated would be $3.5 billion in savings over five years. Congress said no.<\/p>\n The following year, the military tried again but said the retirement would not be final until 2019. Congress again said no.<\/p>\n Last year, officials backed away a bit further, indicating retirement was still the best option but that it could be put off until 2022.<\/p>\n Now the retirement push is over, and the Warthog\u2019s future appears secure.<\/p>\n \u201cThe world has changed,\u201d said Maj. Gen. James F. Martin Jr., the Air Force budget deputy, in explaining decisions to keep aircraft once deemed expendable.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n No, the world didn’t change. What changed was the political climate. The Air Force thought by dumping the A-10, they’d have more money at the cost of American lives on the field of battle. The Pentagon is now focused on winning the war against the evil losers instead of the domestic social climate. There is nothing in the pipeline that can replace the A-10 to provide security for ground forces. <\/p>\n Two years ago<\/a>, Major General James Post, Vice Commander of Air Combat Command, told junior officers that \u201cif anyone accuses me of saying this, I will deny it . . . anyone who is passing information to Congress about A-10 capabilities is committing treason.\u201d<\/p>\n