The Selling of America

"LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European aerospace group
EADS said Friday that it may rejoin the competition
for the U.S. Air Force aerial-refueling tanker
contract after the Pentagon gave indications
that it would extend the time needed to submit
a bid.

"The European company, which lost its chance to
win the contract when its U.S. partner,
Northrop Grumman Corp. pulled out earlier this
month, called the development a "positive sign"
that the Defense Department is seeking competition.

"The Airbus parent said it is 'assessing' the
new situation to determine whether it can submit
a bid, though it reiterated its concern that the
program requirements still clearly favor 'a
smaller, less capable aircraft.'

"Northrop spokesman Randy Belote said the defense
company is not considering re-entering the bidding
contest.

"In a strange twist, United Aircraft, an aerospace
group formed by the Russian government in February
2006, plans to jump into the bidding. Citing a
U.S.-based lawyer for UAC, The Wall Street Journal
reported the aerospace firm plans to announce a
joint venture with a small U.S. defense contractor
on Monday."

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pentagon-may-extend-tanker-dealine-2010-03-19?dist=afterbell

Perhaps the United States has forgotten the French
government's gigantic error after WWI when France
contracted with a German firm to design and build
the "Maginot Line." When the German decision was
made to invade France during WW2, Hitler summoned
the builders who showed up with not only the
plans, but also the specifications for cannons
required to breach the fortifications at various
points.

Similarly, Czechoslovakia copied the French
fortifications when building their own, so Hitler
had sufficient information for his purposes about
another border.

For these, and other more or less obvious reasons,
the USA needs to internalize all military
purchases. Given our unemployment picture, why
not give the project to Detroit based firms that
did such a great job during WW2?

Bill Vajk