That pretty much sums up Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell’s response to the House Appropriation Committee defense panel’s decision to add $450 million to keep alive the F136 engine program for the F-35 strike fighter next year. The Pentagon leadership wants to terminate the engine program. “I don’t know what more we can say or do to make clear that this is something we don’t want, we don’t need, and we can’t afford,” Morrell said, making liberal use of the editorial “we” in a statement issued after Tuesday’s vote. However, despite the HAC-D’s move, Morrell said, “I can assure you Secretary Gates will do whatever it takes to make sure we don’t continue to throw good money after bad in pursuit of the extra engine. And he enjoys the full support of the President in that effort.”
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
