I actually disagree, flex, but only in the detail – I think that your comment applies to the administration, but not the average American. I think there is a feeling in the Executive that, now that Bush does not have to worry about re-election, they can get away with just about anything. The problem has been that the Democrats are just as bad, but in different ways, hence the result in ’04. The other problem is that there has been a problem of perception – all the European anti-Americanism does not present a very good advert for friendship.

The solution is for the Bush administration to wake up and smell the Java, and put some effort into avoiding upsetting its allies. Allies will quickly slip to friends, and eventually to associates, if the administration does not reverse its current course. It has to be remembered that there is a war going on, and when at war, upsetting allies is never a smart move!

The problem is that there was an assurance given to the UK, that if it joined the program, there would be the appropriate ITAR waiver. The problem is that there was a change of government in the US, and the Bush administration decided not to issue such a waiver. It is not an issue that can be litigated – the real punishment for the US would be to decline to purchase, or, far more damaging to the program, impose ITAR-type restrictions on the lift-fan technology, which would pose major problems for the US.

As for your recommendation that people who do not agree with your position ‘stick to pop-up books’, I would ask that you refrain from personal attacks, it does not add anything useful to the discussion.

It is not about technology control, it is about customer service – you are looking for countries to put money into the development of an aircraft, and to buy it, despite a massive increase in projected cost. The fact is, the US can play hardball on the JSF if it wants, but not if it wants customers – and if those export customers go elsewhere, then the unit cost will climb even higher.

The JSF is starting to look a bit like the RAH-66 Commanche, with great hopes of it being a panacea, and everyone waiting in line to buy. The big problem is that it is not the best performing fighter (Typhoon and Rafale being better at A2A), and potentially facing competition from UCAVs, which could end up costing far less, but do all the same missions.

Basically, the whole thing comes down to this one question: do you want friends to buy your fighters, or a bunch of nations angry with you for messing them about. To say that you do not want to export technology, because it might be transferred to potential adversaries, is actually quite insulting to the allied nations (yes, there have been problems with Israel, but not with Australia or the UK, so why punish close allies).

I think it is largely because the grey makes the aircraft look clean, which is not the case with most of the greys used. It makes the aircraft look a lot newer than they are, which I suppose is a good move politically…

Well, I will bow to your superior knowledge of the alcohols of the world, especially given that I do not drink. Just as an aside, does anyone know if German ships are dry like American ones, or theoretically non-dry like UK ones?

Again, very nice photos Fed, though personally, I would not have gone for the German lager, Dutch lager is much better, same with Czech lager, mind you, there probably were not any ships from the Czech Navy there…

I think that statement by the THK is very revealing actually, and not necessarily in the way you might like Beleg. The report stresses the following:

– “planned routine training flight in the international airspace“
– “harrassed our fighters“
– “our fighters continue their routine mission without any maneouvers“

These are actually very interesting, they stress the idea that the Turkish aircraft were not on a mission, they were on a ‘routine’ or ‘training’ flight. Where the incident happened is certainly a matter of great interest, but the reality remains that the THK flew an armed package into Greek controlled (whether the area is actually owned by Greece is a whole different issue, which I am not qualified to comment on) airspace. It is very unlikely that the account is the whole story – certainly from what I have heard, the Greek fighter pilots are very well trained, and would not simply fly into the back of the THK fighter.

I suggest people avoid blaming the unfortunate Greek pilot, who cannot respond to such allegations. Also, just to inject a little common sense to this debate, if you are one of the Turkish pilots, you are hardly likely to return home, and say that it was all your fault…