I hope this isn’t related to the awarding of the new tanker contract to Northrup-Grumman/EADS and not to Boeing.
Doubtful. Sounds more like irreconcilable differences over larger policy/strategy issues.
If I had to guess, it's resistance to some sort of proposed change in mission capabilities and/or force structure.
One possibility: the USAF has been dragged over the coals for its poor performance in managing and fielding high-dollar space programs. Could be that Gates is looking at giving some of those programs away to some other organization....
If anything, AF should be ripped on the process used to award tanker contract - whether it's the right AC or not aside and benefits to Alabama aside (?) the award was a foregone conclusion.
That said, AF has always believed itself to be above the herd and has always been dominated by techies, nukes, and fighter pilots. I can easily imagine them dragging their feet on non piloted platforms that mere ground pounders would control.
I hope it is!
(35 yr Boeing man :>)