U.S., French Presidents Enter Tanker Competition ControversyApril 01, 2010
 U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the U.S. Air Force's top officer and the chief executive of EADS all got words in this past week about the ongoing controversial bid to replace the aging U.S. aerial refueling tankers. Sarkozy said that he told Obama that Europe's EADS would bid for the contract if the competition were fair and open, The Hill reported. "I said to him, I trust you; if you tell me that the tender will be fair and transparent, then EADS will bid and we trust you," Sarkozy said, during a joint press conference with Obama, according to Reuters. The U.S. president countered that while the process would be fair, procurement decisions are made by the defense secretary, and by policy the president does not meddle in that decision, according to The Hill article. EADS is considering whether to re-enter the bidding fray, but this time going it alone after Northrop Grumman dropped from the competition last month. But the company is seeking an extension to the May 10 deadline to submit a bid. The Air Force's top commander, General Norton Schwartz, said that no decision has yet been made to extend the deadline, Congress Daily reported. Officials would have to determine whether EADS is "really serious about putting forward a proposal," Schwartz said in the Congress Daily report, adding that if the company were serious, a "modest" extension would be in the interest of taxpayers. The Pentagon confirmed that a deadline extension is possible but not inevitable. At the same time, it is not certain that EADS will make a bid. Thomas Enders, the head of EADS' Airbus unit, recently said that the company was within two or three weeks of announcing whether it will mount a solo bid, according to the Reuters report. The company has requested a 90-day extension and asked to study classified material previously seen only by Northrop. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andy M. Kin) |
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