O.T. Whats up with this

[Animal]

I try not to get caught up with these issues, but this just takes the cake! The United States defense department just awarded a contract for fueling jets to Graumin in France, this in turn just knocked Boeing aircraft in Witchita out of over 1000 jobs, you better beleive my U.S. senator and congressman will receive a letter from me!I would like to know why a penny of my tax money should be spent over seas on manufactured products.

 

[rrlund]

BUT.....without trying to start something here,look at all the flap over the no bid contracts with Haliburton. Do you want American jobs with American companies,or do you want to reduce government waste by taking the lowest bid? Not a slam on the question,just asking.

 

[Mike (WA)]

There's about umpteen countries I would have been fine with- but France? With their millions of nnalert? We're trusting them to build our military aircraft? Whatever happened to the concept of national security against a country which hates us (France), and our avowed foe (nnalert)? And equally to the point, France has not exactly knocked our socks off with their technical ability over the years (wanna buy a Renault?) We gotta be just nuts, on this one.

 

[ben brown]

heard same story but do belive the planes are to be build in alabama

 

[Animal]

You have an excellent point about Halliburton, but their is more than one aircraft manufacturer in the States, and as far as low bid, how can giving americans jobs that will no doubt be paying taxes opposed to the french that will not be paying taxes or spending money in the U.S. a savings? No flap intended, just curious.

 

[jose bagge]

I suppose the Mirage was a pretty good jet, but as a country France just sux....the most anti-american of our supposed allies

 

[Animal]

I never heard that, but even though we know where the profits are going..

 

[Bill(Wis)]

Renault is a mediocre (at best) example of what happens when government meddles. Peugeot, on the other hand, is one of the world's outstanding motor vehicle manufacturers. Dassault Falcon jets are top of the line. Aerospatiale (now American Eurocopters) helicopters operate at the top of the world. Something we (Bell, Sikorsky, etc.) have not been able or willing to do. Our TOW missles were improved versions of French SS 11's. Don't sell the French down the drain when it comes to aviation. They are not only excellent competitors who keep the fire lit under our engineers, they quite often teach us a thing or two.

 

[Angle Iron]

I thought I heard that Boeing was the only US bidder.
Angle Iron

 

[bradley martin]

Grumman is an AMERICAN company....for this project they teamed with Airbus(a French/English company). The planes will be assembled in Alabama. Boeing thought they had the cat in the bag because they had ALWAYS got the tanker business before and evidently bid way high w/ an inferior product. According to the Air Force press release, the Grumman/Airbus tanker was way ahead on payload, performance and price.

 

[MarkB_MI]

The Pentagon is required by law to award the contract to the bidder who provides the best product and the best price. This is just sour grapes. What is the point of having a competitive bid if, when it's all done, the award is given for political reasons?

There's been plenty of hanky-panky in the past between the military, Congress and various contractors, Boeing in particular. Back in 2004, a huge contract for Boeing to lease tankers to the Air Force was scuttled after it came out that the Air Force contracting officer was in cahoots with Boeing. I think it's refreshing to see evidence that contracts are awarded based on their merits, for a change.

By the way, this contract was won by a partnership between Northrop-Grumman, a US corporation and Airbus. The aircraft will be built in Mobile, Alabama. Airbus, by the way, is not a French company, but a consortium of companies from several European countries, including France. The company you call "Graumin" is Northrop-Grumman, as all-American as you can get.

One last thing: France now has a pro-American president. Isn't it about time to quit bashing the French? America has enough true enemies in the world without being hostile to France.

 

[Anonymous-0]

'''Whatever happened to the concept of national security against a country which hates us (France), and our avowed foe (nnalert)? And equally to the point, France has not exactly knocked our socks off with their technical ability over the years (wanna buy a Renault?) We gotta be just nuts, on this one. '''''

I've heard about a trillion stories about Haliburton. The media decided it was terrible to have a company from this country be our backup and support company during a war.

Now they are pisssed because we had an open bidding process and someone from here did not get the contract, although it is partnered with an American company.

That is why I never pay attention to what the idiots in the news say.

 

[Anonymous-0]

ABC news said 89% of it would have been made in America if
Boeing made it. 65% if Grumman builds it. If it saves us money and
is a better product and the majority of it is built here, to bad for
Boeing.

 

[HENRY E NC]

That nnot all. It was announced again (Maybe just today) that Airbus was awarded the contract to build our defense missile for the new destroyer class.

Dont forget the Congress refused to help Boeing with a subsidy for the new tankers but Airbus is a European subsidized firm mostly from France Oh yes, the missile plant will be in a southern state also. Only the profits go East. Also, in my belief the companies engineers will all have links to our intel capabilities and our engineering. Just global economy practice I guess. Pretty soon Iran will be selling us nuclear components for our nuke powered ships
Henry

 

[dittmerku]

My brother goes overseas frequently. He's found that France isn't unAmerican, they're simply anti-Bush. There's a big difference. Most people in France like Americans, they just can't believe we could twice elect someone as stupid as Bush.

 

[MN Scott]

Gee, if France hates Bush so much why did they just elect a conservitive prime minister with veiws much like Bush to reform the country.

 

[Dennis (VA)]

They don't like him any more; current approval rating is just like Bush 37%

 

[WantACaseLASomeday]

Actually Halliburton did a spectacular and cost-effective job when you consider that there is no other comapny anywhere in the world with the expertise they have. Bid those contracts if you want, but there would be no other companies with the qualifications to match Halliburton. Since I have a daughter on her 2nd tour in Iraq I appreciate the fact that we got the best people for the job. Same goes for Blackwater - they are no-nonsense and brutal when required, but since I have a dog in the hunt I appreciate that.

So - as for airplanes - there are two companies in the world who can make these. Boeing or EADS (which is basically French). EADS will assemble in Alabama from French parts. If you want to claim that Haliburton should have been bid then you have to respect that the tankers were bid. Can't have it both ways - it comes down to bucks or competency/reliabililty but any gummit will never get both.

I live in Wichita and we will take a huge jobs hit and I hate that. As much as I support Haliburton and Blackwater getting the no-bid contracts I would also like to see Boeing get this work. It's only right.

 

[buickanddeere]

Correction. France is fine with you as long as you understand that everybody else is inferior to the French.

 

[ldj]

Boeing contracts all over the world for parts of their airplanes to be built and sent here for assemble. Not just little nuts and bolts but whole sections of the planes. Those foreign companies make a profit and that profit stays over seas. Boeings airplanes are no more American built that these Grumman planes will be..

Think about this. I have a Ford Crown Victoria made in Canada. I have a friend that has a Toyota that is made in America.----Which one of us is not buying American???

I had no idea my Ford was not American made till I was cleaning it and saw the tag on the door sill.
L.D.

 

[JML755]

ldj is right. Take a look at where the major parts are coming from for the 787 Dreamliner. All over the world.