1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,279 Speaker 1: So yesterday the Otago Daily Times ran an article about 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: what a fellow called Grant Kitto thinks. Now. Grant is 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: a former Doctor Without Borders worker mat san Frontier, and 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,279 Speaker 1: Grant Kitto argued that showcasing the US Air Force F 5 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: twenty two Raptors at the Warbirds over Wonker effectively legitimizes 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 1: US military power and the weapons systems that have been 7 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: used in conflicts where civilians were killed, and he would 8 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: like it if they were stopped from actually performing now. 9 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: The Raptor is made by Lockheed Martin, and back in 10 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen, a US Air Force gunship, also built by 11 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: Lockheed Martin, attacked Doctors Without Borders Hospital, killing forty two people, 12 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: including fourteen staff members. So you can see where grank 13 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: Kitto is a little bit upset about the United States 14 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: Air Force. Obviously, he also worries about the huge emissions 15 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: from the planes, so he just thinks it's just a 16 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: bad idea. A local councilor echoed his concerned and said 17 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: that the current global environment was not good for a 18 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: display of US military power right now in beautiful Wanica. 19 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: And he said, because this kit, this plane is in 20 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: current use, that makes a difference compared to the older 21 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,399 Speaker 1: planes which will be at the event. But I thought, 22 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: what a load of tosh. Firstly, I guess the giveaway 23 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 1: is the name of the event. It's always been war birds. 24 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: These are all warplanes. This is a celebration of war machines, 25 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: but more so the ingenuity of the people who built 26 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: the amazing planes and what they can do in the air, 27 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: not what they can do to kill. No one's firing 28 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: off any missiles here. And I wonder where all the 29 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 1: descent was back in the day when the American F 30 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: sixteen's visited, which were also on act of duty, or 31 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: the Australian F one to elevens, Or how about the 32 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: Soviet era MiGs which at the time with the height 33 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 1: of the weapons of mass destruction? What about the British 34 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: Vulcan bombers that killed thousands in their career, or even, 35 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: dare I say it, the mighty spitfire. Does Grunt Kitto 36 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: also have a problem with shooting at the Olympics or archery? 37 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: Does he have a problem with the javelin, which of 38 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: course is based on spearwork, the ultimate and original weapon 39 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: of mass destruction? Look, I understand his concern, but I 40 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: think I'd say maybe it's better to understand the weapon 41 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: rather than to ban it. And of course it's not 42 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: the plane that did all the killing, it's the people 43 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: who controlled it. This plane is coming to fly and 44 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: to show what it can do in the air, and 45 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: the F twenty two Raptor is a mind boggling good 46 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: piece of kit. For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, 47 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 1: listen live to news Talks. It'd be from five am weekdays, 48 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.