One of the arguments against the contract award was that there would be a security problem with Euro countries providing material for the contract. It should be pointed out that Northrup/EADS are on the approved vendor list and there was no problem prior to the award.

Another argument I've heard indicated that Alabama workers were not skilled enough to handle such a contract. Those detractors need to be made aware of the fact that Alabama has the top technology city in the world, behind Silicon Valley only. Not only that, but withing the same commute time as present in Seattle (the Mississippi Alabama Gulf Coast), we have skilled workers, not only in aerospace, but also in nuclear, chemical, and other areas. Like your laser printer? It was invented here in Mobile.

OldBitByter - 14 March 2008 09:45 PM

One of the arguments against the contract award was that there would be a security problem with Euro countries providing material for the contract. It should be pointed out that Northrup/EADS are on the approved vendor list and there was no problem prior to the award...

Why would there be a security problem France has been a strong supporter of ours in the war against terror. They have also showed they are not a security risk by repeling the germans in the last two world wars. We should have no worries about relying on France with providing the aircraft parts we need in the event of another war.