Palin on Defense Spending

Ben Smith finds some news in Sarah Palin’s all-over-the-place Hong Kong speech.

Despite the need to move men and material by air into theaters like Afghanistan, the Obama Administration sought to end production of our C-17s, the work horse of our ability to project long range power. Despite the Air Force saying it would increase future risk, the Obama Administration successfully sought to end F-22 production – at a time when both Russia and China are acquiring large numbers of next generation fighter aircraft. It strikes me as odd that Defense Secretary Gates is the only member of the Cabinet to be tasked with tightening his belt.

The canceling of the F-22 was a minority position within the GOP, but it was supported by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), and it’s tough to find actual defense experts who disagree.