You sound like a Korean. "What effects do you need?"
"Suh, we uh need uh AC-130 uh suh"
"NO. WHAT EFFECTS DO YOU NEED IN YOUR AO."
"Suh, wha time AC-130 take uh off uh suh?"
"GODDAMNIT! Tell me what you want done and I will allocate the appropriate aircraft and weaponeering to solve your problem! This is what we get paid the big bucks for! If your effects necessitate an AC-130, you MAY get allocated one, depending on whatever else is happening in this god-forsaken country and how your priorities rack and stack! So again, WHAT EFFECTS DO YOU NEED?"
"uhhhh, so no AC-130 suh?"
YOU, as a JTAC, or FO, or whatever you are do not get to decide which aircraft is overhead. You may write on your 1972 "Need single-seat, FAC-A and SANDY capable aircraft with Sniper, 38's, 54's, and 30mm gun", but that doesn't mean you're going to be allocated one. I've been an ALO, I've been in combat in the F-16, I've sat at the CAOC and allocated sorties based on requests, and your remarks mean dick. I understand we don't understand the very specifics of your situation, which is why you need to spell out exactly what effects you are looking for and we will allocate as appropriate. As the General mentioned, you may think you understand CAS but your comments above prove you have a very narrow mindset of what that entails. If you think that an A-10 is better because he's not afraid of ground fire, you clearly do not understand the capabilities or specifics of the variety of aircraft at your disposal. I've done 8 hour missions in the F-16, with a CONSTANT presence overhead (we do have a little thing called yo-yo if the situation dictates).
No one is arguing the A-10 is a better platform for delivering CAS. But it is old, and keeping it around is taking money from other places. Already F-16 units around the world are losing money, sorties for training, and have lost critical updates such as AESA radars amongst other things that would keep us relevant for years to come (Against REAL threats, not just some shitheads in desert environments). Now we'll just have two aircraft that are both out of date because it is cool to hate on the AF retiring the A-10 (Thanks, JQP).