UAW Local 148                                                                                           

The following letter was sent to United State President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Carl Levin (Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee), and
Representative Ike Skelton (Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee).

February 8, 2010

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC  20500

Dear President Obama:

We take umbrage to your remark that the C-17 is wasteful congressional spending and is unneeded.

Secretary Gates' opinion, is, just that.  He is known for his willingness to kill-off good projects and he is ruthless in punishing failure.  He has also fired, among others, the secretaries of the army and of the air force.

His latest call is to cap production of the C-17; when it is need more than ever.  As you are aware the modernization efforts of the C-5, which we should continue to replace, has major problems that include cost overruns.  The C-5 is older than the C-17.  It is the plane that makes up the majority of the U. S. Strategic Airlift Fleet along with the C-17.  In particular, the C-5 has more difficulty landing in inhospitable situations, which posed problems in Iraq.  It has also experienced expansive maintenance problems, making it unavailable to conduct missions; on average of fifty percent of the time.

Congress, with your leadership, needs to end the congressional limitations on retiring C-5's and replace them with C-17's to sustain aircraft mobility.

C-17's bring home our wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan.  It literally becomes a flying hospital.

We've all seen Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush as well as First Lady Michelle Obama asking for support for Haiti.  The C-17 is critical in getting supplies and troops into disaster and war zones.  Despite the need of this proven, on time, and on budget workhorse, you, Mr. President, once again, want to shut down our nation's only large airlift production line.

Whether people support the wars or not, most people support helping other people in times of need.  The C-17 has participated in Haiti; we didn't see any C-5's on those runways.  We supported American Samoa victims of the tsunami and earthquake of September 29th.

C-17's completed humanitarian efforts in stricken Pandang, Indonesia where nearly 800 people were killed.

Today, the C-17 supports U. S. Troops fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq and is used in response to humanitarian disasters around the globe.  The C-17 flew missions to Pakistan following it's devastating earthquakes, assisted Thailand after the tsunami, evacuated Americans from Lebanon on the eve of war, brought supplies to thousands impacted by Hurricane Katrina and aided victims in storm-ravaged Burma.  We even helped the Chinese with support during extreme weather conditions where supplies could not fit the needs of people in China.  We've transported 100,000 pounds of well-drilling equipment for water in Nairobi.

These are just a few of the things that C-17 has done to aid and improve our World.

This great airplane, one that my members build with great American Pride, may be a lot of things to a lot of different people, but that that it will never be is considered a waste of money or congressional pork barrel type spending.

Enclosed, please find a postcard depicting the unloading of our fallen heroes at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.  We solute each casket as it moves down the C-17 ramp.  Emotionally draining to watch, but comforting to know that these great heroes, who have made the ultimate sacrifice to our country, are returned home with honor and a respectful tribute.

Sincerely,

George Burden, Political Director-CAP                  Stanley G. Klemchuk, President

by Union Labor of OPEIU 537
Political Action/CAP____________________