April 16, 2008 - Everyone knows that many American companies have been outsourcing certain jobs for years. How many times have you dialed a customer support number for a company you do business with only to find yourself on the phone with someone in another country? But its not just customer service jobs that are sent overseas. And as it turns out, American tax dollars are being used to generate jobs in other countries, with the full knowledge and support of both political parties.

About two months ago, the Air Force awarded the contract for its new in-air refueling tanker planes to a consortium of companies that includes Airbus; Boeing's largest competitor. The contract may be the largest single military contract for the next decade and you'll be happy to know that if it goes through, in will create 100,000 new jobs... in France. Yes, you read that correctly.

At the same time, Boeing... who was Airbus's competitor for the contract... will be forced to lay off more than 40,000 tax paying Americans because of the Air Force's unpatriotic decision.

Not only is the Air Force's decision bad for the economy, it is simply stupid when one considers national security. Air tankers are a strategic system. In a war, the United States relies on them to keep it's fighters and bombers aloft. When Boeing... an American company... builds these aircraft, there is no question about access to replacement parts. But when these aircraft are built by another nation, there is a real question about whether or not the US will have access to parts. What happens if the French oppose military action by the US? This could become a big problem.

As for the economy, the United States has filed a complaint... essentially a law suit... against Airbus with the World Trade Organization. The complaint is over anti-competitive practices used by the company and the French government. How in the world can we accuse them of unfair trade practices and then reward them for those practices by giving them an absolutely huge military contract? A contract that could eventually be worth more than $100 Billion.

While the Airbus contract is the largest such award, it is far from the only one. At ACCESS, we thought you might like to see some of the other foreign jobs you are supporting. By the way, it is no coincidence that we are giving you this information the day after your taxes are due.

The following information was published in the Federal Register yesterday. It is a list of government funded projects that that involve the transfer of classified or sensitive information to foreign governments. Among these are components for two other Airbus projects, military aircraft components that the government wants to manufacture in Mexico and a variety of other projects. The wording used is directly from the Federal Register notices, which were actually copies of notices to Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

• The transaction contained in the attached certification involves the export of technical data, assistance and manufacturing know-how to France for the initial development and subsequent manufacture of Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC). After manufacture, the integrated circuits, in wafer form, will be returned to the United States. - $3,695,000
• The transaction contained in the attached certification involves the export of defense articles, including technical data, and defense services to Israel to support the manufacture of F/A-18 Leading Edge Extensions (LEX) and Aft Nose Landing Gear Doors. - $50 million or more.
• The transaction contained in the attached certification involves the export of defense articles, including technical data, and defense services to Mexico to support the manufacture of minor aircraft parts for various military aircraft. - $50 million or more
• The transaction contained in the attached certification involves the export of defense articles, including technical data, and defense services to Israel to provide continued support for the upgrade of the USAF's T-38 training aircraft's avionics. - $ 50 million or more

Note: The next two items refer to the A400M. This is a military aircraft that is being built by Airbus. For more information you can look at http://www.airbusmilitary.com/.

• The transaction contained in the attached certification involves the export of technical data, defense services and articles in support of the Network Server System for the A400M Aircraft. - $50 million or more
• The transaction contained in the attached certification involves the export of technical data, defense services and articles in support of the Integrated Surveillance System for the A400M Military Transport Aircraft. $50 million or more.
• The transaction described in the attached certification involves the transfer of defense articles, including technical data, and defense services to Mexico for the assembly, test, manufacture, fabrication, and repair of Honeywell Product Lines for various weapons systems and platforms. - $50 million or more
• The transaction contained in the attached certification involves the export of defense articles, including technical data, and defense services to Mexico to support the manufacture of electrical connectors, backplane assemblies, and cable assemblies for use in military avionics, communications, ordnance, and guidance systems. $50 million or more.

These are only a few of the government funded projects listed in the Federal Register. For the complete list, see http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-8065.htm.

You should keep these projects in mind when you go to the polls in November. If you don't know where your congressional representative, or Senator stands of these agreements, you should call their office and find out prior to the election.

by Jim Malmberg

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