[dr_who_2]

Not so many years ago it was required that all military equipment and material be produced in the US, including uniforms. But that requirement was gradually and quietly abandoned by our free traders in Congress and the White House. I recall a brief spat a few years back when it was learned that a new Army beret would be produced in China.

Yeah. Yeah. If China should deprive our fighting men and women of their berets, what will we do? Answer: produce them in the US! ...or Pakistan.

The Bushies seem to think that the WoT is the answer to every political question, international and domestic. If they can't link it to the WoT, then they hand the issue to the Democrats. It has a lot to do with why things are the way they are now, not just in Kansas and Ohio.

[Will88]

“Yeah. Yeah. If China should deprive our fighting men and women of their berets, what will we do? Answer: produce them in the US! ...or Pakistan.”

It involves far more than berets. That was just a fairly amusing example. But production can’t be instantly moved to another location, particularly for more complex items used by the military.

I know I read of two examples of foreign suppliers refusing to resupply the Brits because of their opposition to the war in Iraq. Once was a Swiss company that supplied grenades, and there was another perhaps French company that refused to supply them with some other items.

Allowing any basic production for our military to go overseas is one of the dumber moves that has been made.