House panel's Iraq talks flare into (767) tanker debate

WASHINGTON - Why argue about rebuilding Iraq when you can rehash the 767 tanker debate instead?

Because "you can't do the job (in Iraq) and not have access to tankers," said Rep. Todd Tiahrt after a House Appropriations Committee discussion of President Bush's $87 billion war funding plan veered toward tankers Thursday.

A fierce tanker debate erupted toward the end of the committee meeting as Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., offered an amendment requiring a 30-day review of alternatives to the proposal to lease 100 converted Boeing 767s as tankers to the Air Force.

The amendment passed by a voice vote.

The program, which carries a $21 billion price tag, would create more than 1,000 jobs in Wichita, according to Boeing.

(more)

http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/6978352.htm

What a bundle of pork. I've written and called my Senator on this many times.

My best friend is a tanker pilot in the AZ Air Nat'l Guard. He is 30 yrs old with a wife & three kids. The youngest KC-135 in his fleet is 45yrs old. A third of the AZ fleet of KC-135s are grounded at any given time waiting on parts/repairs and every other time he lands he has to put in a request for another repair. Think about it.....a 45 year old plane taking off from a major airport flying over residential areas carrying 300,000 gallons of jet fuel. Now throw in engine failures, hydrolic issues, electrical problems, etc and it's not a good mix. The planes are too old to haul passangers so we shouldn't use them to haul hundreds of thousands of gallons of jet fuel either. 767s will be more fuel efficient, have less repairs and those that occur will be fixed faster, etc. It's time to replace them.

Not the need for replacements! AF would save hundreds of millions buying them. Leasing them adds a ton to the cost and puts the money in Boeing's pocket. BTW - The REAL issue should be to ask the traitors at Boeing why their planes are being designed and made overseas! (China) (Still assembled in US, but for how long?) IMHO, outsourcing critical manufacturing jobs overseas constitutes TREASON! (Especially 'in time of war!')

It is sad that all of our money has to go towards implements of war. More and better ways to kill people but what the hay 1000 jobs could be created.:shrug:

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Thank You!