Posted on 05/30/2010 8:42:42 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
President Barack Obama said on Friday he would veto any legislation to fund, over Pentagon protests, a controversial second engine program for the multinational F-35 fighter aircraft.
Obama's comments came just minutes after the House of Representatives adopted its version of a fiscal 2011 defense spending bill that included $485 million to keep the alternate engine alive for competitive reasons.
The House, by a 229-186 vote, gave final passage to the measure that authorized a $726 billion budget for the Pentagon and other national defense spending.
The alternate, interchangeable engine is being built by a joint venture of General Electric Co (GE.N) and Rolls-Royce Group Plc (RR.L).
Without it as competition, United Technologies Corp (UTX.N) would have a decades-long monopoly on the projected $100 billion engine market for the more than 3,000 F-35s due to be bought by the United States and partner countries.
Obama, in a written statement, said he stood "squarely behind" Defense Secretary Robert Gates' opposition to the alternate engine and to any purchase of more Boeing Co (BA.N) C-17 cargo planes.
Neither the full House nor the Senate Armed Services Committee has proposed to fund the C-17 next year, although both did so in the past over Pentagon objections.
"Our military does not want or need these programs being pushed by the Congress, and should Congress ignore this fact, I will veto any such legislation so that it can be returned to me without those provisions," Obama said.
"As the Congress continues its work on funding bills for the Department of Defense, I want to reiterate my strong support for the reforms Secretary Gates is advancing at the Pentagon," he added. Gates has been leading a war on waste and bloated bureaucracy with an eye to freeing up some $10 billion to
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Oh, NOW he wants to save money.
Loser.
IMHO, very short-sighted.
The list, ping
He’s just trying to “level the playing field” for the enemies of America. Typical “child of the world” bullsh*t.
Before the “Stimulus” we had defense spending and the space program. Now we have shrimp farms and smoking cessation classes.
Now we have shrimp farms and smoking cessation classes.
Soon to be >oily< shrimp farms.
And isn't the fact that GE is involved make the whole second engine thing corrupt in spite of any other facts of the case?
Meanwhile Gates is busy selling for homos in the military on Arm Forces TV speeches.
I am speechless: homo first, professionalism second, and there goes your attention and legal funding and enforcement priorities.
Most maintainers like the the Pratt.
It's a better product for them.
I, would like to see competition and not just a GE or shut it down decision.
sounds great
tack it to every liberal boon doggle until it gets passed. too bad its too late to tack it onto 0bamacare
ping
A second engine source provides huge long-term savings. Stopping it is...well, Obama-level stupid!
The case for fiscal sensibility and a track record of excellence: http://www.f135engine.com/
Wonder what he is giving Jeff Immelt as a consolation prize. Or has he thrown MSNBC under the bus too?
Also, keep in mind that this project has been rejected by 2 administrations, not just Obama. The DOD has flat out said repeatedly that they do not want this second engine.
“
Obama vows veto of any bill to fund 2d F-35 engine
“
It’s above my paygrade to rationally understand if the US Military
really needs this second version engine for the F-35.
But if Obama is against it.....
well that tells me all I need to know.
(We should get it!!!)
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