Danziger Cartoon 
By John R. Gilligan

FAR BE IT FOR JEFF DANZIGER, THE TIMES ARGUS, NY. TIMES OR THE REST OF WHAT RUSH LIMBAUGH CALLS THE "DRIVE BY MEDIA"; TO LET THE FACTS OR TRUTH STAND IN THE WAY OF THEIR LIBERAL PROPAGANDA.

I'M REFERRING TO THE DANZIGER'S "AIR FORCE GIVES HUGE CONTRACT TO AIRBUS" CARTOON IN SATURDAY'S MARCH 15TH TIMES ARGUS.

HAD DANZIGER OR THE EDITORS AT THE ARGUS GOT THEIR HATE FILLED ANTI-CONSERVATIVE, ANTI-MILITARY HEADS OUR OF THEIR BUTTS AND  CHECKED FACTS INSTEAD OF BRAINWASHING GULLIBLE READERS, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE PUBLISHED IT.

WHAT THEY FAIL TO POINT OUT COULD FILL PAGES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THE REST OF THE STORY.

1. THE AWARD DECISION WAS MADE AFTER A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS OF QUALIFIED BIDDERS WHERE THE TANKER PROGRAM REQUIREMENT WERE CLEARLY ARTICULATED.

2. THE WINNING BID WAS SUBMITTED BY A NORTHRUP/GRUMAN/AIRBUS COALITION EMPLOYING THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS AND SUB CONTRACTORS. ALSO AIRBUS IS OPENING A HUGE AIRBUS MAINTAINING FACILITY AT THE OLD PLATTSBURG, NY. AFB. BRINGING MANY HIGH PAYING JOBS TO OUR REGION.

3. THE BOEING BID WAS RISKIER, MORE EXPENSIVE AND DID NOT MEET MANY OF THE PERFORMANCE CRITERION SET FORTH BY THE SPECIFICATIONS. IN SHORT, THE KC. 40 HAS BETTER RANGE, CARGO CAPACITY AND MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS THAT WILL IN THE LONG RUN SAVE TAXPAYER TAXES.

4. UNDER CURRENT RULES MILITARY PROCUREMENT IS NOT ALLOWED TO EVALUATE BID PROPOSALS ON THE BASIS OF JOBS CREATION. IT IS ALSO WASTEFUL AND POOR PROCUREMENT PRACTICE TO AWARD CONTRACTS BASED UPON PORK BARREL POLITICAL CRITERION.

5. AS WITH OTHER MANUFACTURES, BOEING OUTSOURCES GLOBAL VIA THE SUPPLY CHAIN SO THE CARTOON IS BASELESS.

NEED I SAY MORE? YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE BY READING THE AIR FORCE TIMES 17 MARCH 08 EDITION WHICH ALSO CARRIES AN EDITORIAL EXCERPT FROM THE MOBILE PRESS REGISTER THAT IS HEADLINE "AMERICANS WILL BUILD TANKER." AND MANY OF THEM ARE IN ALABAMA. IT ALSO QUOTES SNIDE COMMENTS MADE BY AN UPSET BOEING EXECUTIVE ABOUT SOUTHERNERS.

FAIR AND OPEN FREE MARKET COMPETITION SERVES US ALL WELL.

I SAY THIS BASED UPON MY 40+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SUCH AREAS AS USAF SUPPLY AND LOGISTICS OFFICER, VT. STATE PLANNING ECONOMIST, BUSINESS MANAGER AND PURCHASING AGENT. I ALSO HAVE 20+ YEARS AND CURRENT PARTICIPATION IN THE VERMONT AFFILIATE OF THE WELL KNOWN INSTITUTE OF SUPPLY MANAGEMENT AS DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT AND LIFETIME CERTIFICATION BY ISM IN THE LOGISTICS/PROCUREMENT FIELD. 

IT HAS BEEN MY LONG HELD CONVICTION THAT THE LAST PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE MEDDLING IN AND TAINTING THE SOUND PROCUREMENT PROCESS ARE SELF-SERVING POLITICIANS AND MEDIA TYPES SEEKING TO MISLEAD THE THE PUBLIC AS THEY USUALLY HAVE ZERO CREDENTIALS OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE AREAS THEY SEEK TO INFLUENCE AND DOMINATE. 
 

JOHN R. GILLIGAN, C.P.M., A.P.P 
CAPTAIN USAF, RETIRED RESERVE