One Week Until Air Force and Airbus Reach a Decision

Sometime between now and the end of next week, we'll find out who will make the next refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force. Ok, that's probably not true. One week until the next shoe drops in one wild business saga. The only thing missing from the tanker story is sexual intrigue, but that'll probably show up in a movie version starring Clive Owen as the head of Airbus.

It's been a year since I started reporting on "the biggest defense contract of 2007," except now it'll be "the biggest defense contract of 2008." Or maybe 2009. The $35 tanker deal has taken more odd turns than a lost UAV, including:

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--(Airbus) winning the contract in an upset--surprising even some inside the partnered companies.

--Boeing filing a challenge, launching one of the most aggressive, political campaigns in defense procurement history.

--The Secretary of Defense firing the top two officials at the Air Force, creating questions about the service's integrity.