Maintaining command of the air and superiorityover the battlefield is the single most important characteristic of warfare. Unfortunately Mr. Kaplan, seemingly with little or no real world experience in these matters, nor demonstrated technological proficiency, has mixed political posturing with aviation commentary. The world of military and especially aviation technology do not stand still and advances continue to be made my very capable people in nations not particularly friendly to us. It is air superiority that is the cornerstone of security and safety and that can only be accomplished by great cost and national will. During World War II air superiority required some 18,000 P-47 Thunderbolts and another 16,000 P-51 Mustangs. We built about 24,000 B-24 Liberatorts and another 18,000 B-17 Flying Fortresses. The Nazis built more than 30,000 ME-109s to confront the Allies and perhaps another 15,000 FW-190s and never mind all the other types of craft. And now we speak of 180 airplanes to control the air--technology has progressed. But we must wonder at the possibilities that they must dominate the skies in any part of the world at any time. But Mr. Kaplan would deny us that small number for some reason not well articulated. Words cannot dominate the sky, machines must. Perhaps Mr. Kaplan would spend a bit more time reading the history of military aviation. His writing might then be more credible.