Posted on 01/30/2005 7:57:07 PM PST by beaelysium
Sunday, January 30, 2005 10:46 pm EST
Outsourcing
A presidential helicopter that isn't all-American?
http://news.newstimes.com/editorial.php
Connecticut was shocked Friday to hear the U.S. Navy has chosen a helicopter made by a European consortium to transport President Bush.
>snip<
Sikorsky Aircraft, based in Stratford, is the company that traditionally builds presidential helicopters.
>snip<
The Lockheed design is actually a British-Italian product. >snip<
But key components will be built overseas, and this $6.1 billion contract for 23 helicopters will mean a net loss of American jobs.
Is this a new avenue for outsourcing American jobs? Well, yes.
It also outsources the development of advanced helicopter technology and gives the Lockheed-European helicopter the edge in future Pentagon purchases.
As House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, said: "It is difficult to understand why we would use U.S. tax dollars to fund the further development of foreign helicopter technology."
Was this decision just about picking the best helicopter? No.
Lockheed's European partners waged an aggressive and offensive campaign against Sikorsky, insisting the Pentagon should share its business with British and Italian companies in return for British and Italian support for Bush policies on Iraq.
So Connecticut and Sikorsky lost a big one.
" I am at a loss to explain why the Navy and the president would choose anything other than an all-American helicopter built by the company that has a flawless, 45-year track record," Governor Rell said. "It simply doesn't make any sense. I'm angry and I'm disappointed."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.newstimes.com ...
Maybe if Connecticut would have voted for him, they would have gotten the contract... :D
Plus, I understand the Lockheed copter was the better one.
Wonderful, huh? The destruction of America is well underway. Nice of our leaders to enrich the world while hurting those who elect them. Wake up America.
Connecticut didn't vote for Bush...
Soooo predictable, out damned spot.
A very fair point, but Litchfield county went for him, many, many towns in New Fairfield voted for him, also their governor, Jodi Rell is Republican.
key components will be built overseas, ...
Did any Europeans vote for him?
I would guess that it would be pretty much impossible, or at least hugely expensive, to make any aircraft out of 100% American parts and designs.
Yes, UK and Italy voted with their sons lives in Iraq...
And you think $6Bil. is cheap
I'll shut my eyes just for this time since Italy supported us in Iraq War.
A presidential helicopter? It's a contract for 23 presidential helicopters! How many helicopters does a single President need?
Have the Kennedy and Kerry people build it? No way! Too bad!
Doesn't the various secretaries & the VP need choppers??Not to mention the first lady.I think of the 23,around 4 will probably be exclusively for the President & be fitted with state of the art communications,jammers & countermeasures-the rest being relatively downgraded variants.
I don't think that the presidential chopper(both Sikorsky & LM variants) would have a lot in common with the original copters,the EH-101 & the S-92.Their avionics,seating,communication -everything would be radically overhauled.So in the final picture,it doesn't really matter which chopper won the contest-it will be a very different system.
Hopefully they were doing that in their own enlightened self interest. This is about American jobs.
Of course if you are an internationalist you may believe that American jobs mean nothing in the face of the world's concerns. But then where would Europe, Japan, and now Iraq be without the strength and focus of Americans?
I for one will never give up any of my rights to any internationalist organization. Even in a relatively small state like Connecticut, though my town voted Republican, my county voted Republican, and I have successfully helped elect a Republican governor, you would discount that as meaningless, and you have carelessly inferred that Connecticut solders who have fought and laid down their lives are meaningless - not worth consideration as you throw the lives of Italians at this as more meaningful.
An intelligent Republican party does not have any need of 'koolaid drinkers' to defend our elected, no matter what they do. That's what is wrong with what is left of the Democrats.
If we wish to keep this party strong, intelligent and true, we need constructive criticism and forums, such as freerepublic, in which to discuss and develop good solutions.
sure is better than clintoon having our military head wear made in China
Only rotor blades and gear boxes
and this $6.1 billion contract for 23 helicopters will mean a net loss of American jobs.
That's $1.6 billion and most likely will mean an increase of American jobs.
The secretaries do not need helicopters. The VP might need one.
Not to mention the first lady.
She does not need a presidential helicopter. She occupies no office of government. She does not get paid. She has no official duties.
There's no way we need 23 presidential helicopters.
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