Today’s Wall Street Journal reports that Paris based engineering company Alstom SA used bribes to win contracts around the globe. American companies have long complained of not being able to compete against European bribes, which, according to the story, were so pervasive that up until the late 1990’s they used to be tax deductible.

There is a long history of French bribes in business deals that have compensated for poorer products. Former CIA Directory James Woolsey said that the French have used bribes to secure contracts for products that are ‘less technologically advanced or more costly.’

This all seems to fit in line with the recent unfairly awarded $40 billion tanker contract to E.A.D.S. and Airbus over the more qualified American based Boeing. E.A.D.S. has zero experience building tankers; Boeing has built military tankers for the past five decades. Further, in the published Air Force evaluation, Boeing was given the highest possible rating in the crucial area of mission capability, an equal score with Airbus in the risk assessment but still the contract was awarded to the largely European based firm.

Our nation’s defense and workforce can not be held hostage by the backdoor games of self-interested government officials, while crucial elements of American security are put in the hands of European government officials. This deal must be investigated to ensure no such ‘unfair’ advantage was gained through the long history of under-the-table European money. Nothing less than the security of our nation, and our country is at stake.

Front Page Photo by Ack Ook- Flickr © Some rights reserved

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