Boeing could face competition after all for Air Force tanker

[unhappycamper]

The contract for Air Force tankers like this is up for bid.


Boeing could face competition after all for Air Force tanker
By Les Blumenthal | McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010

WASHINGTON — Barely a week after French, German and British leaders pounced on the Pentagon for its handling of a $35 billion contract for aerial refueling tankers, the Defense Department said Friday that it's considering extending the deadline for bids and a European company now says it may compete.

The decision did not sit well with Boeing supporters on Capitol Hill.

"They shouldn't cave to more games from a foreign competitor," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. "I believe in fair and open competition, but this is no time to put American service members and workers on hold while a foreign company waffles."

Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., said it would be a mistake to "yield to international politics."

Tiahrt said he had talked with Ashton Carter, the Pentagon's undersecretary for acquisition, who indicated that the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. had requested a 90-day extension of the bid deadline.


Rest of rather expensive ($35 billion) article at: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/19/90746/boeing-could-face-competition.html



unhappycamper comment:Note to Todd: too bad we didn't "yield to international politics" before we invaded Iraq you putz.

P.S. The Russians are going to put a bid in also --> http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/03/19/us.russia.refueling.tanker/