Failure to launch

This story came to my attention recently—about how various countries are, um, stretching their military budgets tighter than an aging starlet’s facelifts. Specifically, since February, Finland and Switzerland have been unable to greet airspace violations in the customary manner (which would be by sending up fighters to execute the international air force equivalent of “Yo, dude—WTF?”).

These failures to launch have been due to budget cuts. Specifically, on account of…wait for it…sending up the jets would run into overtime pay for the pilots and ground crews.

As a military historian, here’s what I officially have to say on the matter: well, blow me.

Well—a couple of questions, too. (Oh, come on, you knew there would be questions.)

The Swiss don’t have the budget for OT? The Swiss don’t have enough money from all those billions of dollars deposited in their banks during the 1930s, which they’ve insisted can’t be withdrawn by relatives of the depositors on account of there were no death certificates issued at places like Majdanek? What the hell have they been spending all those francs on?

Also—any members of any military get overtime? Holy crap!

Personally, I’d be really nervous about letting Putin know that all he has to do is attack on a bank holiday and he’ll pretty much have a cake walk, but that’s just me.

Because I’m betting that these OT restrictions don’t apply to the Russians.

If this keeps up, perhaps the Air Force will have to start holding bake sales to buy a bomber.