Anyone working acquisition knows the SAFE route was for the USAF to pick Boeing. That they didn’t is a strong indication the process was clean - they had to CLEARLY believe EADS built the better tanker, or they wouldn’t have invited all this trouble for themselves.
I don’t believe for a moment the acquisition folks said, “Let’s throw ourselves on a buzzsaw for fun!”
There was no good reason to pick EADS. They were undoubtedly pressured to do so.
I don’t know one way or the other on the contract, I posted regarding the firings.
I will say that Murtha was livid when the contract didn’t go to Boeing.
I consider Murtha one of if not the biggest crook in Congress so I believe that says something about the contract not going to Boeing.