If you take Bogdan’s argument on good faith, that the F-35 would simply perform the mission differently, then it is still egregious to trust an unfielded method over the A-10's proven role too soon. If we had deployed F-35s a year or two ago and found they fulfill a CAS purpose better (or as an argument goes, best in a oblique way) than established practices, then we could be having this conversation.

That said, this is politics. And as such, on that front Bogdan has undercut his point. As CSAR joint tests between the two showed recently, the outdated Warthog augments the F-35's new abilities well. If both platforms can help each other perform what they do best while bringing the F-35's promise to fruition, then keep the old bird around for now. Not hard, not expensive, and lives can be saved as a result.