The United States Government has established itself with the ideology that “cheaper means better” and by outsourcing jobs to foreign competitors it has thus weakened this country’s economy and is bringing us all to our knees.

The U.S. Air Force has recently awarded a $40 Billion contract to build our military’s aerial refueling tankers to the European (French) company Airbus. This is devastating news for Boeing, for American workers, and for America’s men and women in uniform.

The tanker contract would mean 44,000 new American jobs in 40 states. The American people are frustrated and angry because their government wants to take American tax dollars – their tax dollars – and give that money to a foreign company to build planes for our military.

Our economy is in dire straights. The President said this morning that we’re not in a recession, “we’re in a slow down.” A slow down? We’re not in a slow down, Mr. Bush, we’re in denial! What is he smoking?

We have lost countless manufacturing jobs already because of corporate elitists putting their own interests ahead of the interest of the American worker and national interest by sending American jobs overseas.

The government has even outsourced machine guns and pistols carried by our troops to foreign manufacturers. This is just outright, blatant, in-your-face- irresponsibility.

Instead of securing the American economy we are stimulating the economy of Europe at the expense of American workers. At the same time we are putting our national security at risk as this contract holds a vital piece of military capabilities.

The last time I checked we were at war against terrorists. In 2005 Airbus, and it’s parent company EADS, was caught trying to sell military helicopters to Iran, despite our concern about Iran’s support of terrorists in Iraq and their efforts to develop nuclear weapons. When they were confronted EADS answered that “as a European company” they were “not supposed to take into account embargoes from the U.S.”

Boeing has 75 years of experience building planes for our military. Boeing’s tankers have been around so long we have squadron pilots whose grandfathers have flown them, as well.

And dig this; European governments have subsidized companies in order to make their products cheaper to squeeze out American competitors. This is in strict defiance of World Trade Organization regulations. There is a law suit pending.

Boeing is challenging the award in a protest before the Government Accountability Office, which is reviewing the Air Force’s selection process.

E.A.D.S. and its U.S. partner, Northrop Grumman claims its victory would support at least 25,000 jobs at more than 200 U.S. suppliers, while Boeing says its aircraft would support more than 44,000 jobs at 300 U.S. suppliers.

John McCain, the apparent Republican nominee for president, said the Air Force needs a replacement tanker. “We shouldn’t delay this any longer than necessary,” he told the Press-Register of Mobile on Monday 4/22/08 during a campaign stop.

“If the process was legitimate, and I have no reason to think it was not, we should get on with it,” McCain said.

McCain, a former Navy pilot and knucklehead, said lawmakers should not put special interests ahead of national defense.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates also defended the Air Force’s handling of the contract.

“All I can say is that I think it would be a real shame if the tankers were to get delayed,” Gates said during a speech at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. “We are long past due in terms of getting on with this program.”

This is just another slap in the face to the American people who have worked 100 years or more to build a superior air defense. We MUST defend our aerospace industry. With workers moving on to other types of employment, it could take years to rebuild.

Knucklehead Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Wynne and Defense Secretary Major Knucklehead Robert Gates just gave away a $40 billion contract involving military capabilities…to the French!!