#244 / A Symphony Of Flying Killers

New York Times' columnist Thomas Friedman has identified the planes below as a "flying killer symphony, orchestrated by the U.S. Air Force."

Reaper Drone

B-52

U-2 "Dragon Lady"

F-16

F-22 "Raptor"

F-15

MQ-9 "Reaper" Drone

KC-135 Stratotanker Jet Refueler

I last referred to Thomas Friedman on August 22, 2017. Friedman was on a tour of key air bases in the Middle East. Violence had erupted in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Friedman was clearly out of sorts at being so far from the center of the latest controversy. He heroically attempted to turn his air base tour into a celebration of American "diversity." I made fun of this attempt, a transparent demand that everyone recognize his relevance as a pundit, even when what he was doing, on the day of the Charlottesville events, had nothing whatsoever to do with what was happening there.

Friedman has now returned from his air base tour. He documents his return in a column that The Times ran on August 30, 2017. Click the link to read it. Friedman is continuing to extol the "diversity" of our armed aerial attackers, which he finds a worthy symbol of the very best of what the United States stands for, contrasting the "decency of the U.S. military personnel ... and ... [the] unworthy Donald Trump." 

Forgive those being blown up by the bombs for not seeing it quite the same way. "Decency" is not the first word that comes to mind! 

Image Credit:

(1) - http://techsob.com/military-drone-aircraft/

(2) - https://fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b-52_i.htm

(3) - http://www.procerusuav.com/us/products/u2.html

(4) - http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a25157/f-16-fighter-flying-in-2050/

(5) - http://www.military.com/equipment/f-22-raptor

(6) - http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/exposed-the-reason-the-us-air-force-needs-upgrade-the-f-15-19082

(7) - http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/mq9_reaper.htm

(8) - http://www.altus.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/352091/kc-135-stratotanker/