NATO Chief joins U.S. officials in urging Congress to drop "Buy American"…

[kskiska]

NATO chief joins U.S. officials in urging Congress to drop 'buy American' in U.S. defense bill

NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson joined senior U.S. officials Friday in urging Congress to ditch a bill that would force the Pentagon to "buy American" on more defense items, saying it would increase costs and weaken trans-Atlantic ties.

At a conference on defense industry cooperation, Robertson welcomed Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's July 8 warning that he would urge a presidential veto if the provision is not removed from the 2004 defense authorization bill.

"More protectionism is not the answer," Robertson said. "It brings huge associated penalties with it, not only in costs, but in political unity."

The measure, designed to protect the U.S. defense industry, is backed by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. But the Pentagon argues it would hurt national security in the long run by limiting international partnerships.

more…
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/07/18/international1004EDT0528.DTL

[GainesT1958]

1. North Carolina has six major military installations...

And textile plants which make military uniforms, tents, and a factory in the Mountains making the "Schwartzkopf Boot". I wonder which of our Congressmen, and if Liddy Dole, will do Grumpy Rummy's bidding, and screw all of those workers in this already-depressed domestic textile economy? :mad:

And I wonder if Rep. Nethercutt of Washington state, he of many broken promises, will also screw all of those Boeing workers in Seattle (albeit they're not in his district) by voting Grumpy's wishes? x(

If we win back the White House next year, we need to escort Grumpy Rummy out of town--bound up to a rail! :grr:

B-)