In ruling that Airbus received illegal government subsidies for its A380 superjumbo jet and other airplanes, the World Trade Organization didn’t settle the long-running dispute between Europe’s Airbus and America’s Boeing. But Boeing and its congressional defenders, including the Kansas delegation, got a global acknowledgment that the “launch aid” that European governments provided for the A380 was illegal and that the rivals haven’t been competing on an even playing field. Though complicated enough that both sides see vindication in it, the ruling certainly should give Pentagon officials more to think about as Boeing and Airbus approach a new round of bidding on an Air Force air-refueling tanker contract. As Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, said in a statement, the report “raises new questions of whether the Department of Defense should bid out national security contracts to a foreign entity entangled in illegal subsidy dealings.”
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11 Comments
My guess is that the reason Boeing didn’t get it last time is that the time before, they bribed a pentagon official to push a highly lucrative deal through at the expense of taxpayers.
How is it they get how important it is to buy American when it affects the big stuff, but not the little stuff too?
Pmom, because the bribes for the little stuff don’t amount to squat when compared to the bribes for the big stuff.
This is what happens when a company like Airbus forgets how to be competitive and uses illegal government subsidies to do so.
Airbus is a political animal conglomerate designed by engineers who often leave the pilot out of the equation in the final design.
I agree with the Congressman, national security trumps illegal subsidies.
“Regular” enlightens –
“Airbus is a political animal conglomerate designed by engineers who often leave the pilot out of the equation in the final design.”
When did you learn that? During your 2-and-a-half-month railroading career or when you were a substitute music teacher.
I really wanna see your resume, “Regular.” Clip off the name and contact info — just list all the jobs you’ve had that have given you such expertise in… just about everything, right?
Not my fault MonkeyHawk, that you’ve gone through life drunk, stoned or thoroughly incompetent in all things but flapping your lips.
What the biggest consideration should be is the politics. Who will benefit politically if Boeing gets the contract? Assuming that much of the work would be done in Wichita, the Republicans would benefit and since the state has no Democrat in Congress, no Democrat in the Senate and will never ever vote for one for President, what possible reason would Obama’s defense dept want to steer such a huge contract to Boeing?
Now if Boeing stated that the vast majority of the work and employment would occur in Washington state which is more blue, than maybe it should get a second look.
On the other hand, most of the Airbus work is to be done in LA (lower Alabama and Mississippi) which may be even more radically right than Kansas is.
These are all things that need to be considered.
Maybe- just maybe- if a few of the Kansas Republicans called the President and said privately “hey Mr President, if you will take a second look at this tanker thing, we will take a second look at your healthcare bill” then Boeing MIGHT stand a chance. Maybe. After all these Kansas Republicans are in pretty safe seats.
I’m sure Obama will fix this.
Soon it will be illegal to build airplanes if the company is NOT owned or subsidized by Government.
And yet Boeing still will outsource all they can and at the same time demand Congress buy American!
The airbus lobbyists were driving McCain’s bus to nowhere. He did all he could to give them this contract. Contracts change with the political winds don’t they?