Preceding America's First Line of Defense
In the wake of the attacks on the American Consulate in Benghazi and as ‘Green on Blue’ attacks in Afghanistan have significantly escalated in recent weeks, Americans cannot help but consider the heavy burden and sacrifices carried by America’s troops and our Diplomatic Corps abroad.
We are constantly reminded of the heavy cost our American heroes and their families are paying for our mission in Afghanistan. Attacks from those who are supposed to be our allies erode trust and can have serious morale implications for our troops. Further they have an impact on Americans and decision makers who represent their interest’s willingness to continue with the mission in Afghanistan and our broader efforts to combat terrorism.
Operation Enduring Freedom, the US-led coalition effort in Afghanistan, sought to eradicate the Al-Qaeda terrorist network and overthrow the oppressive Taliban government. As the mission evolves from a combat to training and support role, the primary objective is to transition the responsibility for their security to the Afghan people.
The fight to minimize America’s involvement includes ensuring that our Afghan partners have the tools and resources to fight Al-Qaeda. Building a more reliable, independent Afghanistan Air Force is one of the capabilities that we must take responsibility for. The Light Air Support (LAS) contract is one of those critical components necessary to defend Afghanistan against those who wish to use it as a home base for future terrorist activities.
Countries like Afghanistan will remain a target for opportunistic terrorist groups who plot to disrupt the progress we have made unless we are able to transform their defense forces from the inside out and enable them to conduct full spectrum combat operations. On a global scale, the LAS contract and its execution will be viewed as a framework for developing internal defense capabilities in war-torn countries that have only recently broken free from the shackles of totalitarian regimes.
The spotlight is now on Afghanistan, and the stakes are extraordinarily high. The outcome of this transition will send a message to terrorist networks and oppressive regimes around the world. A resilient and independent Afghan National Defense force to include, Air Force, that defends Afghani citizens will give hope to the rest of the world. A failure in this effort would have devastating consequences not just in Afghanistan, but on a global scale.
As the United States works to build the internal defense capacities of countries like Afghanistan and others it’s important that we do so by utilizing America’s defense and manufacturing sector. The suppliers for the LAS contract have an enormous responsibility. That is why it is paramount that the United States Air Force selects a trusted American manufacturer built in a country that has supported bringing stability to Afghanistan.
If awarded the LAS contract, Kansas-based Hawker Beechcraft would create and sustain 1,400 long-term jobs in the US in production of the AT-6. Hawker Beechcraft has a stellar record of arming the U.S. military, including its construction of aircraft used to train virtually every U.S. military pilot.
The US would be taking on an unacceptable risk by investing too heavily in unfriendly and unreliable foreign suppliers for the LAS contract. A company like Embraer, the Brazilian company cloaked under the banner of American partner Sierra Nevada, is exactly what the Air Force should avoid.
Brazil did not support the United States in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Earlier this year, Brazil refused to join America in voting for the Arab League sponsored UN Security Council resolution aimed at stopping the violence in Syria. Brazil also did not support the actions taken by the United Nations Security Council to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Libya. The LAS contract aims to create a safe and self-reliant Afghanistan. The mission is too important to our nation’s security to have outsourced to a South American nation who has, time and time again, been critical of US-led humanitarian efforts abroad.
Furthermore, Sierra Nevada, widely known as a systems integrator in the defense community, is not an aircraft manufacturer. They have not manufactured aircraft to the scale and scope as specified in the LAS contact. Brazil’s Embraer would assume the bulk of the manufacturing responsibilities, creating jobs overseas, while providing only a few dozen final assembly positions in the US.
Our veterans know that growing a strong, robust economy is an integral component of keeping America safe. So when thousands of American jobs are at stake, the Air Force should consider the domestic job creator that is our nation’s aerospace manufacturing industry. Selecting a foreign-owned company for the LAS contract would do little to strengthen our economy here at home, and could potentially weaken the Afghanistan government in its effort to fight terror.
President John F. Kennedy once stated, “The center of freedom's defense is our network of world alliances.” Though much time has passed and America’s enemies have changed significantly, the necessity of world partnership and the protection of liberty by helping others defend themselves is ever present. This will prevent American troops from ever putting boots on the ground and risking the lives of those with the courage to enlist to defend our great nation.
