Tanker
Obama Says Tanker Contract Will Be "Free And Fair."
The Hill (3/31, Tiron, Youngman) reports, "President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the process to select new Air Force refueling aircraft will be 'free and fair.'" Obama made the comments during a press conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. European countries have said the US is practicing "protectionism" after and EADS/Northrop Grumman team withdrew from the contract, saying it favored Boeing. "Sarkozy told reporters he and Obama discussed the tanker issue. Sarkozy said he trusted Obama's assurances that the selection process will be fair." Obama "countered...the procurement decisions are made by the secretary of Defense and as a long-standing policy the president does not 'meddle' is such decisions."
