Patty Murray: “I have not received answers to those questions either. This is a critically important matter. What happens if France or…”

“I have not received answers to those questions either. This is a critically important matter. What happens if France or Russia--which, by the way, is pushing to increase its stake in EADS--want to slow down our military capacity because they do not like our policies? Do we want another country to have that kind of control for decades to come--especially given the concerns the Defense Secretary has now raised about decisionmaking and leadership at the Air Force? I think we have to push for an explanation before we move forward on this contract. I have detailed this morning three very serious concerns about Airbus and EADS. The facts are clear. When it comes to international trade, EADS doesn't play fair. It has repeatedly lied about its impact on our economy and it has more than once given us reason to worry about how hard it will work to protect our security interests. The bidding process for the tanker contract was so flawed that Boeing filed its first ever protest of a defense contract decision with the GAO, and we are waiting for that decision. But we need to remember the GAO can only look at whether the Air Force followed the procurement laws and regulations. It cannot answer whether the Air Force should have awarded that contract in the first place. We, Congress, have to ask those questions.”