http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/02/air_force_buys_french_tanker .asp

On one hand, I think the US should be using exclusive US companies to build military hardware, we are also buying the follow up to the M203, from a German company.

But cost is a big consideration, and we are in a global market, how can we expect other countries to buy from us, if we don't open up our our order system.

The planes will built in Ala, where labor costs are much lower. Maybe Boing should have bid on the order, projecting building the planes in the south east.

IMHO, if we can't build our own weapons --and other things we need, we lose leadership on that basis.

Think about it. We really get into it with somebody, and somebody else jacks up the price of the goods we need to fight the battle. Ugly --and not sustainable.

Actually, this applies to most goods we need.

The cost advantage is artificial. Moving something overseas is actually leveraging different governments and how they structure their markets.

Say here, the wage equation is X, and over there it's Y. That difference Z, ends up being profit for some corporation.

So far so good right?

Now, do that to lots of industries and suddenly we end up in a position where we are spending a lot, and not producing enough to warrant that spending.

Additionally, should foreign companies aquire US ones, the profit dollars leave the US as well, leaving a vacuum.

Today, that's a big part of our payment problem. We spend a ton, but we don't do the work necessary to build the wealth needed to compete in the global economy.

It's a open loop, with value leaking out of the country.

Until we close it, and wean ourselves off of the cost advantage we think we see with overseas trade, our global position will continue to grow dependant on others and that's just not good where us continuing to be a super power is concerned.

For war, doing this is just nuts!!

France does not support the U.S. in war and they are paid back with a giant contract.

Maybe since I did not support Shrub, I can be appointed as ambassador to France.

Airbus is not specifically French, Britan is a major component, as are many US companies.

The Airraft will be built in the US, maybe if Boeing had planned on building their plane in the south east, with lower labor costs, they may have been competitive.