Okay, let me clear something up-
The more JSF's are sold, the less they will cost, which with the financial fix the US is in right now might be the only way this program gets off the ground is with big sales numbers, and that means allies buying it, not to mention the money they've alrady put into the development pot. I don't have any concern about selling the JSF to NATO countries or some of our friends that we've sold F-16's and F/A-18's to in the past (although the US should be more selective when it comes to costomers than it was with the Falcon or Hornet). The simple fact is that these allies want the F-35A, not the complex F-35B or the heavier and more expensive F-35C. The Air Force doesn't want the C either and I don't blame them, it's got alot of stuff that just adds cost and wieght that just isn't neccesarry if you aren't using a carrier. I'm not so worried about the stealth concerns because honestly, If we don't sell our friends the best technology fighters, than someone like russia will develop the technology, sell it to our allies, who might not be so cozy with us anymore because of our selectiveness, and we loose out on the market as well. It just seems like common sense to me.
also
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We pulled the gun out of the 18E/F because it's not a close-support aircraft.
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This is incorrect.
All F/A-18E/F's have a vulcan cannon, some Marine F/A-18D's used for night attack can have their cannon removed and replaced with a camera system for recon, but the cannon can easily be put back.