[Paul Ross]

This perversion of U.S. industrial policy makes Warren G. Harding's "friends" look pristine by comparison.

[oceanview]

what do you expect, we are offshoring our technology and industrial base - where do you expect these things to come from now?

but hey, we've got plenty of walmarts and applebees - if war comes, we can toss chinese made toys and plates of food at the enemy.

[Paul Ross]

For now, foreign suppliers represent a tiny share of Pentagon spending. But their role has been growing rapidly, even as Representative Duncan Hunter, Republican of California and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is leading efforts to tighten "Buy America" laws enacted in the 1930s but since weakened by regulations.

The foreign connection has raised questions in Congress, and even inside the Pentagon, about whether these deals could result in breaches of national security. Some also worry that suppliers from some countries that are now friends may one day be foes.

"What they are trying to do at the Pentagon is not - and underscore 'not' and underline it and put it in capital letters - in the best interest of the country," said Representative Donald Manzullo of Illinois, a Republican and chairman of the House Small Business Committee. "The Pentagon is asleep and is not looking after our defense industrial base."

For the moment, several Pentagon studies, including one from the Defense Science Board, a powerful outside advisory body, have found that the economic and strategic benefits outweigh the risks. The Pentagon argues that international deals help spread research and start-up expenses while improving ties between the United States and its European allies.

[Cautor]

"The Pentagon's latest weapons-buying list has a distinctly foreign flavor. From the military's point of view, the U.S. no longer has a lock on research and technology and has no choice but to look abroad for various piece parts."

Back in June, I had an exchange with a senior DOD official (no, not top-tier but still well placed) on the demise of the U.S. capability to develop and field new torpedo technology. In essence, he said not to worry because we can buy them from the Swedes.

[RATkiller]

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[Wiseghy]

So What? Seems to me that the biggest government give away in the world would be to jack-up contract prices to artifically support US based suppliers, who may not be providing the best technology. There is already loads and loads of pork in defense procurement.

It is an international market for arms. Some nations, such as Israel, make very, very good ones.

We insist on the finest quality and the most for our money, even it that means going overseas to buy a supplies or equipment.