By JOHN T. BENNETT
WASHINGTON — The Republican Party is trying out a new line in defense of the embattled F-35 fighter jet. It goes a little something like this: Burn Washington’s partners on the program now, and building coalitions of the willing will be harder later.
In recent weeks, two senior Republicans have suggested the US should avoid buying fewer of the Lockheed Martin-made fighter jets or significantly altering the often-troubled program, which has been plagued by technical, development and testing problems.
The first instance of the new F-35 talking point came from Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., chairman of the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee, in an April 30 interview with Defense News.
Asked whether he believes the Pentagon and Congress should merely pay whatever costs the program rolls up, Frelinghuysen did not directly answer.
But the New Jersey Republican did say this: “We have an obligation to our international partners. We are not alone in this investment.”
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