Tanker fight hits the editorial pages

Published 8:24 am Friday, February 18, 2011

With a decision expected as soon as next Friday in the Air Force tanker saga, the competitors are pleading their cases to newspaper editorial boards.

Both EADS and the Boeing Co. are competing for the $35 billion deal to replace 179 of the Air Force’s tankers.

Here are a few recent editorials:

Boeing would build its tanker in Washington and finish it in Kansas. The Tacoma News Tribune wants a non-botched tanker decision in this editorial.

The Wichita Eagle says the public should rally for a Boeing-built tanker in this guest editorial.

And finally, the Birmingham (Ala.) News suggests the state, which is where EADS would assemble its tanker, is going to “party like it’s 2008” in this editorial. The Air Force initially awarded the contract to EADS in 2008 but later cancelled the contract when government auditors, acting at Boeing’s request, found flaws in the contest.

Quote from that editorial:

“It’s going to be one great time when we win the second time,” Sam Adcock, vice president of government affairs for EADS North America.