U.S. Air Force seeks total domination

The U.S. Air Force has rolled out new slick ads as part of its effort to defeat its most deeply entrenched foes: the Army and the Navy. Each of the three services usually gets about a third of the defense pie each year, regardless of the changing threat environment. That’s Pentagon politics. But with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan taking a huge toll on the Army, the other services have had to fight to stay relevant. I’ve transcribed several of the videos the Air Force is using as part of its campaign, “A Changing World,” below. Here’s one of the first clips:

This building [the Pentagon] will be attacked 3 million times today. Who is going to protect it? Meet Staff Sergeant Lee Jones, Air Force Cyber Command, a member of America’s only cyber command, protecting us from millions of cyber threats every day. It takes Air Force technology to defend America in a changing world.

Video #2, on “air dominance”:

To see how fast our world is changing, you only have to turn on the nightly news. New rogue leaders are emerging. Conflicts are erupting. Sudden disasters are striking our neighbors around the globe. The need for immediate, decisive response is greater than ever. In an uncertain world, how can we keep an upper hand? The U.S. Air Force is answering the call at twice the speed of sound. No modern war has been won without air dominance, so our ability to respond quickly and with precision accuracy to threats is key to our national defense. With our unmanned surveillance aircraft, we can feed critical information to ground troops and keep a watchful eye on enemies who hide among innocent. Our air power allows us to lead among nations by delivering literally tons of relief when our neighbors need it most. In an increasingly volatile world, air dominance is essential to America’s strength. Thanks to the U.S. Air Force, our reach can truly span the globe. It takes Air Force power to defend America in a changing world.

Video #3, on “space dominance”:

If you had to predict where the next war might be waged, would you pick someplace like here [mountainous terrain], here [rolling farmland], or here [space]? The world has changed. As more and more countries develop a presence in outer space, the possibility of a space battle is no longer science fiction. America has over 300 satellites in orbit. The question is, how will we protect our assets in space that we rely on here at home? Our new world requires new solutions. Meet U.S. Air Force space command. This elite force is America’s eye in the sky, keeping watch over our interests high above the ground. The U.S. Air Force has long been a leader in space innovation. In fact, we invented GPS, the global positioning system. It’s no exaggeration to say, the technology we’re developing today will help shape the future. It takes Air Force vision to defend America in a changing world.

Video #4, on “cyber dominance,” which we wrote about here:

You used to need an army to wage a war. Today, all you need is an Internet connection. Because we’re more connected, we’re also more vulnerable to new threats than ever. As a nation, how can we defend ourselves on a virtual battlefield? Welcome to Air Force Cyber Command, the only military unit of its kind. The U.S. Air Force developed an elite force that now defends us from 3 million cyber threats every day. Our national security is only as solid as our ability to see further and change faster than our enemies. It takes Air Force technology to defend America in a changing world.