Tell your elected officials not to outsource our National Security

Dear GOPUSA Activist:

The Pentagon recently made a misguided decision concerning America's national security.

It awarded one of the biggest defense contracts in history, for the Air Force's fleet of next-generation refueling tankers, to a consortium composed of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and Northrop Grumman over US-based Boeing.

Although Northrop serves as the public face for the consortium, its plane originally dubbed the KC-30, is in reality a modified version of the French Airbus A330, a commercial airliner assembled in Europe by Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS.

And, in assigning this critical weapons contract to a European-built system from a European corporation, the U.S. Government has essentially outsourced part of our national security to a company that is owned in part by governments that have recently opposed U.S. foreign and military policies.

Can we trust these countries to support us with critical military components when we need them most -- during a national security crisis?

Take Action Now: Tell Your Elected Officials They Shouldn't Outsource Our National Security!

Consider these critical facts:

• The governments of France, Germany and Russia -- all of whom have opposed US foreign and military policy in Iraq and elsewhere -- are partial owners of EADS and are represented on its board. These foreign governments could hold American security policy hostage by ordering delivery of the tanker withheld in the event of future disagreements over security issues.
  
  
• Awarding the $35-billion tanker contract to EADS and Airbus drains resources from our defense manufacturing base -- a key component of our long-term national security capability and America's strategic edge.
  
  
• The decision undermines our nation's economic security by exporting American jobs. In contrast to Boeing's KC-767, which is designed and built in the United States and comprised of 85 percent U.S. content -- the KC-30 would be designed and manufactured in Europe and will contain at least 40-50% foreign content. And, pressure will undoubtedly rise from EADS foreign government owners and its unions to move even more of the production overseas.
  
  
• Awarding this contract to EADS -- which stands outside the reach of U.S. defense technology export regulations and has done business with China, Iran and Venezuela -- creates the risk that sensitive military technology will be shared with these dangerous enemies.
  
  
• Handing contracts to Airbus when the US Government is currently suing the European Government for providing billions in illegal subsidies to Airbus to assist in the development of commercial aircraft, including the A330, would reward these countries and Airbus for unfair trade practices that further undermine US economic competitiveness.

Take Action Now: Tell Your Elected Officials They Shouldn't Outsource Our National Security!

The Center for Individual Freedom is certain that you and millions of other concerned Americans are just as alarmed as we are over this serious threat to our national and economic security -- and will want to join us in taking action. We encourage you to contact your representatives in Congress and the Senate and let them know that you don't want to see America's national security outsourced to foreign governments that oppose our vital interests.

To make it easier for you to register your protests ... and your support for America's Tanker ... with your Congressional representatives, we have established an Action Center. I urge you to visit http://americastanker.com/action ... and let your voice be heard.

Yours in Freedom,

Jeff Mazzella

P.S. Please help us reach as many concerned Americans as possible by forwarding this e-mail to at least 10 of your friends and family members.