Boeing Tanker: Beans, Bullets, Oil, and politics .. and did we mention: politics ??

[scoolbubba]

This is an awkward and far fetched new twist....

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/19/us.russia.refueling.tanker/index.html

 

[helolumpy]

How difficult can this be??? You notify all the aircraft manufacturers, of which there are probably only 10-12 in the world that can produce an aerial refueler, state the requirements, put in a deadline and await proposals!!!

I'll concede that the outcome will probably end up in court, but we've been doing acquitions for 100+ years, how is this still screwed up after a freakin' decade????

 

[PropAddict]

This is an awkward and far fetched new twist....

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/19/us.russia.refueling.tanker/index.html

Ugh, what's next? Al Qaeda submitting a bid to manufacture IED sweepers?

 

[Jim123]

This is an awkward and far fetched new twist....

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/19/us.russia.refueling.tanker/index.html

<chuckle> Noooo, our high tech modern military wil not stand to have an aircraft that can be maintained by minimally trained conscripts and peasants! But to be completely sure, we must first study that for a few more years.

(Scratches head, checks calendar... nope, still a week and a bit until April Fools' Day.)

 

[mmx1]

Buried in the article is that EADS is still interested in competing despite NG's withdrawal. Whoever the unnamed US company is that's working with UAC, I'm sure EADS would be a more appealing partner.

 

[helolumpy]

And while Russia is looking to compete for the KC-X program, they are helping restart Iran's nuclear program....
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/19/clinton-clashes-russia-startup-iran-nuke-plant/

 

[A4sForever]

Politics as usual ... ????

Latest update: Pentagon will push tanker deadline 60 days to allow EADS bid

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., quickly called the extension: "completely unacceptable."

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., issued a statement: "I see no reason why a 60-day extension in the bidding deadline is necessary, but I am more concerned (over the)... $5 billion in illegal subsidies ... for the commercial aircraft that EADS is likely to use in a bid for the long overdue tanker contract."

But Sen. Richard Shelby, R-AL, whose state would assemble the EADS tankers, issued a statement saying: "the Pentagon made the right decision".

You just can't make this stuff up ...

 

[helolumpy]

Why do I see the only people coming out ahead of this whole thing are the lawyers who are gonna start ringing up thousands of billable hours as soon as the contract is let!

 

[Uncle Fester]

Well, it's like they say: if you're not going to be part of the solution, there's good money to be made in prolonging the problem.