Boldface,
My comments are from personal experience working at the Died. In several TIC's during my many shifts the request came through as a preference for A10's and they were happy to wait ... even after they were offered Harriers which could have arrived sooner!
I was just as surprised as you clearly are, and attempted to educate the American individuals concerned, allbeit from afar, with some success.
Can't go into any more detail on this forum for obvious reasons.
