The defense secretary had used a similar approach in dealing with the Air Force two years earlier, replacing a Secretary and Chief of Staff too committed to the F-22 fighter with new leaders who would not oppose his counter-insurgency-centered spending priorities.
For instance, former Navy Secretary Gordon England was launched by the admirals on a hapless mission to kill the Marine version of the F-35 joint strike fighter during the first Bush Administration, only to be shot down in joint deliberations.