Bush inks ban on sales of surplus F-14 parts

[unhappycamper]

An F-14D Tomcat flys by past the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in 2006. President Bush signed legislation Jan. 28 banning the Pentagon from selling leftover F-14 parts.


Bush inks ban on sales of surplus F-14 parts
By Sharon Theimer - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jan 29, 2008 5:47:56 EST

WASHINGTON — President Bush signed legislation Monday to ban the Defense Department from selling leftover F-14 fighter jet parts, prompted by security gaps that had made the Pentagon’s surplus auction a prime place for Iran to shop for the spares it desperately needs for its Tomcat fleet.

Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, both Democrats, proposed the ban after The Associated Press reported last year that buyers for Iran, China and other countries exploited weaknesses in Pentagon surplus-sale security to obtain sensitive military equipment including parts for F-14s and other aircraft and for missile components.

Iran is the only country still trying to fly Tomcats. The Navy retired its last F-14s in 2006.

Bush made the Tomcat sales ban law by signing a $696 billion military spending bill that included it. He did not comment on the F-14 provision.

Iran bought Tomcats with U.S. permission in the 1970s when the two countries were allies. The governments were so friendly at that point that Navy pilots helped deliver the jets.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_f14parts_080128/