[pnh102]

Why in the world is a foreign company even in the running for a US defense contract? While it might be more costly to have the work done in the US, by all means it should be! US taxpayers who support US defense should be paying for jobs in the US!

What's next? Should we have the military buy Chinese-made weapons because they are cheaper?

[ThunderSleeps]

I'm with you. Two words: buy American.

I work for a company in the same general industry as Boeing, sometimes we partner on contracts, sometimes we compete. That said, I'm still 100% in favor of awarding the contract to Boeing. (and no, I would have nothing to do with that one) Still, American defense dollars should be going to maintain America's industrial base. Yes, I know Northrop Grumman is partnered with EADS in the competition. It isn't the same.

[wolf78]

Why in the world is a foreign company even in the running for a US defense contract? While it might be more costly to have the work done in the US, by all means it should be! US taxpayers who support US defense should be paying for jobs in the US!

What's next? Should we have the military buy Chinese-made weapons because they are cheaper?

Simple. Because US companies supply a lot of stuff to NATO allies within the European Union, there is a legal framework, basically a free trade agreement, which states that both sides will treat bids from companies from the other side of the Atlantic the same as national bids.

Airbust should not even be considered eligible to bid on this contract or any other contract where the military is concerned.

Sure, but Boeing lobbyist will probably have you killed for that suggestion as it would cost US companies billions in European trade.

What Boeing wants is for Airbus to be able to bid on the contract (so they can also sell equipment to Poland etc. like they do now) but somehow make sure it never gets selected.