[TChris]

The law requiring the use of domestic titanium only was probably becoming a protectionist racket like so many other government subsidies. Maybe the competition will do them good. If the Russian Ti is up to snuff, what's the problem?

[Tailgunner Joe]

Walter Williams is not exactly known for his love of protectionism. National Security trumps free trade.

[dirtboy]

The law requiring the use of domestic titanium only was probably becoming a protectionist racket like so many other government subsidies. Maybe the competition will do them good. If the Russian Ti is up to snuff, what's the problem?

Uh, gee, maybe because then Russia could hamstring our ability to build subs and fighters by cutting off our imports of titanium?

[TexPride]

Sudden cutoff from supply due to political whim's is one of the problems. We can't always keep the Russians happy.

[redgolum]

So, why not just outsource our military?

Guys, we have been down this road before as a nation. Luckily we managed to pull our heads out before it was to late in WWII, but if you are going to be sovereign, you need to be able to defend and supply yourself.

[Little Ray]

When our manufacturers fold and the commies, er, Russkis cut us off 'cause we're beatin' on one of their friends, could that be a problem?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

In the late 1950s, the US needed titanium for the first generation of SR-71 spyplanes, one of which is on display at the Seattle Air and Space Museum. The US was critically short of this metal and so approached a trading company in Brazil about getting some from the Russians. The Russians were told that the Brazilians had a need for their aircraft industry and traded some agricultural commodities to Russia for the metal. We paid the Brazilians in US dollars and built the planes.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I work in the procurement area, can say that the Buy America law on titanium is a huge ripoff for taxpayers. Boeing spend huge bucks buying titanium from a US source and has to segregate that titanium from what it uses to build its commercial airlines (domestic titanium not required). It is bureaucratic, expensive and stupid, just like this article.

[itsahoot]

If the Russian Ti is up to snuff, what's the problem?

If you have to ask that question, then there is no way I could explain the problem.

Does it not bother you that we do not produce a single weapon system in house?

[donmeaker]

The SR 71, at the height of the cold war, was built with Russian titanium.

The domestic content law is mercantilism of the worst sort. Why subsidize US titanium at the cost of higher taxes for US Inconel manufacturers?