Posted on 04/10/2012 1:52:38 PM PDT by IbJensen
Last November, researchers for the Senate Armed Forces Services Committee, reported our military had purchased and installed counterfeit electronic components into Warplanes and other weapons systems. During their research the committee claimed that it found more than a million fake parts in a random sample with approximately 70% of the electronic parts originating from China.
The components would find their way into the Defense Supply Chain through approved commercial distributors who purchase the parts directly from China. The Chinese would purposely pack counterfeit parts with in genuine military grade components and sell the batch to the Defense Logistics Agency at bargain prices with little or no quality assurance checks.
Military grade parts are manufactured to withstand extreme conditions. The counterfeit components are often factory rejects or commercial grade parts which have been relabeled. The most effective method to ensure the quality of parts being purchased is aggressive testing of the parts and the decertification of distributers who are selling fake parts to the military. But apparently those charged with insuring the quality of these parts have not done their job.
According to the Chinese nationalistic commentator Song Xiaojun, the United States is at fault (of course!) for getting itself into this situation. He stated “The US has been dismantling its factories since the 1960s,” he said. “And since the Clinton government, the US has turned a blind eye towards military requisitioning. As it keeps cutting its procurement budget, weapons dealers will keep providing cheaper quality products,” The never ending Defense cuts and the high cost manufacturing within the United States and Japan have created a situation where defense suppliers had to look elsewhere for components to keep weapon systems operating.
Phony parts do impact the readiness of the Armed Forces to protect our country. This downward spiral started with the Clinton Administration when they ordered the Military to go bargain hunting for replacement parts.
In the face of draconian cuts enacted by Barack Obama and his American hating Chicago thugs, the Pentagon will be under still greater pressure to find parts to keep our old and getting older weapon systems in optimum shape. This is a very serious situation.
To contact your Congressional Representative use this link: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
To read more about this story use these links:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8876656/US-weapons-full-of-fake-Chinese-parts.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/chinese-counterfeit-parts-found-in-us-weapons/2011/11/07/gIQAQGh7wM_story.html
It’s Clintoon’s and Obama’s fault.
Do you think the chips that were prevalent in the late 70’s are still being made today? This is the time frame somewhere between the digital age and the analog age - so lots of Analog stuff, like Op-Amps. Do you think you can find these chips at Radio Shack? Odds are - nope.
So, where do you find them? Well, in some cases the parts are still made today. In other cases, you find someone who bought a case during the ‘Last Call’ by the manufacturer for 10 cents and sat on them; and is selling them for $40 each now. Or, you find someone who bought the rights to ‘make’ the original part. Either way, how do you know that this obsolete part is the authentic part?
Consider, the B-52 will be 96 yrs old when we finally retire that aircraft. Every aircraft, every part has a Technical Order tied to it. It costs a lot to change a T.O. So, we use the original part whenever possible. Try finding an 80 yr old radio transistor.
Counterfeiters make money by selling fake parts, as authentic parts. You find counterfeit watches, purses, jeans, perfume, toothpaste, tires and yes ... counterfeit chips too.
If you want to blame them for something, there are a plethora of things you can lay at their feet. This isn't one of them.
Are they to blame for counterfeit toothpaste, jeans, lipstick, watches, pens, toothbrushes, paint, chips, purses and Barbie Dolls? If there is money to be made, counterfeiters are going to do their best to create a fake that will pass as the real thing.
When a government and society willingly give up their manufacturing base to another country seeking to dominate the world, the “giver” should not be surprised by what it receives in return.
The American middle class was sacrificed on the altar of free trade at the end of the 20th century to enrich Wall Street and crony politicians. The end of domestic manufacturing in the 20th century = the end of national security in the 21st century. The end of the middle class = the end of capitalism.
To those of you who truly believe our open markets free trade policies of the past two decades have been beneficial to this nation, reflect on the shrinking middle class, the emergence of China as an economic power, the rising income disparity as the middle class goes away, and the propensity of the wealthy who benefited from the outsourcing of America’s industrial capacity to give generously to leftist politicians and institutions.
Some of the results (of using these chips) are dangerous.
Another reason to have manufacturing done here in the US.
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