V-22s Over Iraq

The aircraft/transformer that the Navy and Marines have fought so hard to keep alive has been deployed in Iraq. I have mixed feelings about this thing: they need it, but it's got a lot to prove after all of those crashes and design problems.

Of course, this wouldn't have happened if the military had insisted on a competitive fly-before-buy program like it has for so many warplanes and even some ships.

I'm nervously optimistic. But if the Navy and Marines are to engage in amphibious assaults from 20+ miles out, helicopters won't cut it. Bringing capital ships, many with thousands of sailors and marines aboard, closer to hostile shores is indisputably more dangerous than any V-22 problems.

And an amphibious assault capability matters. We'll never do a D-day-type invasion again; but amphibious assault fleets regularly prevent crises, rescue American and allied citizens, and provide (armed) humanitarian relief. Even Europe has grown to accept this, with many of its major nations building ships to this end.

Now if we can just get that damned EFV to work...