Why are we buying French Helicopters and Airborne Tankers?

Do you think you (we) know it isn't viable and congress doesn't? Don't you think they knew when they passed NAFTA and GATT, that our best manufacturing jobs would go offshore? Of course they knew that, because everyone I know knew that! Am I and all my friends smarter than congress? Of course not! Hey, if they can't outsource jobs, they are busy insourcing them. Our jobs are being done away with on purpose, folks! If they KNOW, then it's called TREASON.

NEENO - I just saw it on Lou Dobbs, that the actual manufacturing will be done in Europe, and we will only be putting the parts together. That's what 3rd world nations do. We need to manufacture everything we can or have in the past, especially for defense.

The contract was awarded to an overseas company for the same reason people buy foreign cars & trucks...quality & cost. You can buy a Ford or Chevy for $25k & get a 3/36K warranty. You can buy a Honda or Toyota for $20k & get a 10yr/100K warranty. We complain about not buying American made stuff, but how many things do you buy that were made overseas? Do you look at the price of things when you go shopping & let that be a contributing factor in deciding whether or not to buy it?

We demand that the government only spend money for American made stuff but we don't hold ourselves to the same standard.

Many of these American companies have gotten fat on government contracts & just expect to get the business without having to compete or prove why they should be selected. It's a wonderful wake up call. I'm glad someone at the Pentagon grew some balls.

The tanker did a better job---flew further, faster and at a greater range. That's what you want in a tanker.

If America's plan is to porkbarrel the defense industry, then let's not have the charade of bidding and competition.

Because the DoD screwed Boeing. Given a set of requirements, Boeing submitted one of several tanker designs they have. DoD then decided to change the requirements while still looking at the specific Boeing model that they knew didn't meet their requirements instead of wanting to take a look at Boeing's other proposals.

The contract was awarded to Northorp Grumman in partnership with EADS. They will be built in the U.S. and no jobs will be leaving the country. In fact is is estimated to create an additional 27,000 jobs in this country.

How else will we get government contractors to stop bilking the government? (the taxpayers).

Without having to compete for contracts we are at their mercy, and they can bilk us dry.

With this contract we are BUYING 150 superior tankers for the price Boeing was going to LEASE us 100.