AF Tanker Delayed Again
This should come as no surprise to anyone following this issue.
Pentagon delays $35B Air Force tanker decisionWASHINGTON (AP) -- The Defense Department will push back its decision on a $35 billion tanker contract to the next administration, delaying again the hotly disputed competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman to replace the Air Force's aging aerial refueling fleet.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday he decided to cancel the current round of bidding on the plane -- a competition that has stretched seven years -- because the Pentagon's plan to award the contract by the end of the year no longer seemed possible given the complexity of the project and the rancor between the two companies. He said a delay would provide a "cooling off" period.
"We can no longer complete a competition that would be viewed as fair and objective in this highly charged environment," Gates said in a statement.
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Comments
Well just another example of cry, moan, and throw a hissy fit and you will get your way. It also sounds like some blackmail or palm greasing is going on in some back room somewhere. I just hope that because of Boeing's childish tantrum they end up loosing the bid in the end.
Posted by: Erin | September 10, 2008 9:23 AM