US-made measure sparks debate: Defense contractors say bill could hurt industry

Boston Globe ^ | June 20, 2003 | Ross Kerber

[sarcasm]

In Washington, the defense industry this week began publicly opposing measures passed by House Republicans recently that would require the Pentagon to monitor and justify the shift of defense work to foreign suppliers. The House's proposed 2004 defense budget bill, parts of which were co-authored by Salem Democrat John Tierney, also calls on military officials to build up the US defense-industrial base and would bar the purchase of certain foreign goods.

[HiTech RedNeck]

''It is critical to incent manufacturers to stay in the US, rather than moving production and capacity offshore,'' said the spokeswoman, Megan M. Gallagher.

Give it up lady. America's manifest destiny is to serve McDonald's hamburgers to one another.

[HiTech RedNeck]

He added that if they were implemented, the House measures would also discourage Europeans from buying American products. For instance, Switzerland plans to spend $300 million this year on equipment such as Raytheon Co.'s Sidewinder air-to-air missile. ''It would hurt both ends,'' he said.

So they make the Swiss missiles in Switzerland. Fine, if that's what it comes down to. Make the US ones here.

[raybbr]

Ping

[DH]

I have watched in amazement over the past years as our military continues to build its own "suicide pill" by contracting out of the United States for military parts, supplies, equipment and all means of critical products that can be terminated at the will of the foreign supplier.  Worse yet, we are not in a backup position to instantly manufacture all of these products if the supply line is interrupded.

The worst thing is that we have lost sight of the fact that today's vendor may be tomorrows enemy!

[Pilsner]

The worst thing is that we have lost sight of the fact that today's vendor may be tomorrows enemy!

I read a great book about British Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) in WWII. They had fine designs, but horrible engine troubles because the Admiralty, rather than secure a domestic source for boat engines, elected to buy them from Italy in the 1930s. Of course once WWII broke out and the Germans occupied the coast across from England the need for small MTBs went up sharply, and Italy, being at war with the Brits and all, cut off shipments of engines.

I don't see us going to war with any major possible supplier, except China, but we have already seen major suppliers cutting off shipments for P.C. reasons. Congress needs use some common sense. There is no reason why there shouldn't be Sony tvs in the rec room, and no reason why there shold be foreign made anything in critical weapons systems.

[Willie Green]

Hunter said the provision could reduce the risk from actions like those taken by the Swatch Group unit Micro Crystal in late March. The unit's suspension of guidance component shipments interrupted supplies for Boeing Co.'s smart bomb known as the Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM....
The bombs were heavily used during the invasion of Iraq, but when the campaign began, Swatch's majority owner, Nicholas Hayek Sr., directed Micro Crystal to halt shipments to Honeywell,...
The Swiss government doesn't know why Hayek took the step, Kaelin said, who added the Swiss government told Hayek the shipments didn't violate export rules. That showed Hunter's bill isn't necessary, said Kaelin, who called Hayek's decision ''personal.''

Our National Security supply lines were jeopardized because some Swiss creep named Hayek had a "personal" problem with our policy???

And the industry wants to subject us to more of this type of Anti-American constraints????

What a pile of hooey.

Make the stuff inside our own borders where we don't have to put up with this nonsense.