Lockheed Martin And Politicians in Conspiracy

Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld reversed his own decision to terminate Lockheed Martin's C-130J Hercules transport aircraft. The plane has continued to fail minimum performance tests. It is unable to drop troops or equipment into hostile zones. It also does not operate well in poor weather or as part of search and rescue missions. This is according to Pentagon inspectors. This plane would fail our troops. Evidently that is not enough cause for termination of the contract. When Rumsfeld notified Lockheed Martin of his intention to terminate, the company went into a vigorous defense. It fired back a letter informing Rumsfeld of a little known provision in the contract. It turns out to complete the production of the aircraft it would cost the government(U S taxpayers and soldiers too) $2 billion. But if the contract were terminated it would cost $ 1 billion in cancellation fees.

Also the company notified representatives of various states where the plane is made. Governor Sonny Perdue of Georgia sent a letter to President Bush protesting the cancellation. The letter was also signed by 24 senators both republicans and democrats from the effected states.

In the end, loss of jobs, loss of profits to Lockheed Martin won the day over a plane that cannot perform it's mission and may jeopardize our troops.

Remember Rumsfeld's rude response to a National Guardsman in Iraq a few months ago when the guardsman asked, " Why the Humvees weren't armored adequately?" Rumsfeld fired back, " You go to war with the army you have."

Rumsfeld and the other politicians should be included in any further test flights of the C-130J Hercules.