It appears that the taxpayers are getting bamboozled again by the Pentagon who keeps moving the line in the sand to make sure the tanker contract goes to Europe. What happened to 'Buy American', not to mention buying an airbus that is more expensive to use and, too large to use as needed. Worst of all, this ploy will harm the military and our national security. Jeff Mazella has the rest of the story.
"Unfortunately, it appears the Pentagon may have decided to hand French Airbus the aerial refueling tanker contract, essentially giving Europe a $35 billion check from American taxpayers. Yesterday, the Pentagon released the draft of the new Request for Proposal, and the draft couldn't have been any more favorable towards French Airbus.
First, unlike the original RFP, the newly proposed RFP will give French Airbus "extra credit" for a larger plane. This seems odd considering that the current medium-sized tankers have the ability to carry more than three times the average fuel load that is currently used by today's tankers. Clearly, the "extra credit" change gives an advantage to the oversized French Airbus tanker.
Second, the draft RFP appears to minimize the $35 billion more in life-cycle fuel costs that the French Airbus will consume. Ignoring the gas-guzzling nature of the French Airbus plane will be a long-term mistake both for the Pentagon and the American taxpayers.
Third, the draft RFP does not include any consideration of the significant national security (and industrial base) issues raised by Americas Tanker and many others posed by the offshoring of a key element of the Nation's strategic defense capability.
It's increasingly clear that Congress must step in, and they must step in now to ensure an open, accountable and a fair competition. Anything less is a disservice to our military men and women and the American taxpayers footing the bill.
Spread the word about the America's Tanker project and help us remind Congress that the GAO mandated re-competition for this contract must be fair.
The GAO already found flaws in the way the first competition was handled. The Pentagon's solution cannot be simply rewriting the RFP to favor one competitor and to justify an inappropriate and incorrect initial contract to French Airbus earlier this year.
Our military deserves the most capable, fuel efficient and tested tanker that comes as the result of a fair and transparent competitive process."
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