Obama Refuses photo-op with an F-22!

President Obama, in his recent visit to Dover Air Force base, posed for a photo-op with the remains of a US soldier. But apparently, he refuses to be photographed standing next to an F-22 fighter plane!:

When President Obama spoke to troops at Alaska's Elmendorf Air Force Base last month, the unit there parked a shiny new F-22 fighter plane in the hanger. But according to multiple sources, White House aides demanded the plane be changed to an older F-15 fighter because they didn't want Obama speaking in front of the F-22, a controversial program he fought hard to end.

"White House aides actually made them remove the F-22. They would not allow POTUS to be pictured with the F-22 in any way, shape, or form," one source close to the unit relayed.

Stephen Lee, a public affairs officer at Elmendorf, confirmed... that the F-22 was parked in the hanger and then was replaced by an F-15 at the White House's behest.

The airmen there took offense to the Obama aides' demand, sources told The Cable, seeing it as a slight to the folks who are operating the F-22 proudly every day. They also expressed bewilderment that the White House staff would even care so much as to make an issue out of the fact that the F-22 was placed in the hanger with the president.

Members of Congress recently pleaded with the president to proceed with the purchase of F-22 fighter jets in order to strengthen US national security.

They contend that only the F-22 has the capability to penetrate Russia’s powerful S-300 and S-400 air-defense missile system.

What's more, Teheran's ambassador to Moscow said on Friday that Russia had assured Iran it will honor a deal to supply the Islamic Republic with advanced S-300 air-defense missiles - despite reports to the contrary.

Nevertheless, Obama has decided to kill the F-22 program - despite its ability to penetrate the S-300 air-defense system - and even refuses to be caught standing next to the fighter plane. Perhaps, Obama is simply trying to ingratiate himself with his Russian pals.

After currying favor with the Russians by scrapping plans to deploy an air missile defense system in Eastern Europe, why ruin all that good chemistry by posing for a photo-op right next to the detestable F-22?

Related Post: Obama accused Bush of staging a photo-op with wounded troops in '07