[KellyAdmirer]

If anyone but NASA is first to Mars, then NASA should just be disbanded and private enterprise and the military given full responsiblity for space exploration. It is just a rathole of wasted money. And if NASA does go to Mars but cops out and makes it an "international" expedition, then NASA should be replaced by an agency that understand how to do things right and in the American, not the French or German, interest.

[RightWhale]

if NASA does go to Mars but cops out and makes it an "international" expedition

NASA should team with Japan and China. The natural competition would be ESA/RSA.