"The European states -- so easily accused of weakness -- backed this fantastic challenge 35 years ago."
Wait a minute here....The European states are now strong because it took them 35 years to get this puppy made? LOL ooooooooooooooo.....I'm so scared!
I think he meant they backed Airbus, the company.
What that did was preserve all the remaining European civil aircraft industries under subsidies. Airbus is the heir to the De Havillands, BAE, etc.
While they've been building their stupid plane, America has been busy taking care of the worlds needs and providing aid to every country on the planet along with putting our money into trying to stop terrorism from taking over the world. How far will their airbus go with Islaamist terrorists running things. Then they brag that they are ahead of us. Well we are making it possible for them to do what they want to without so much as a thank you for our efforts.