WikiLeaks sheds light on U.S. bid to sell jet fighters to Brazil

[IScreamSundays]

Source: McClatchy

WASHINGTON — Recently released confidential and secret cables show that U.S. diplomats have sought to help orchestrate the sale of about $4.4 billion worth of Boeing fighter jets to Brazil, but the French aerospace industry, a longtime Boeing nemesis, may have the inside track.

The cables, released online by WikiLeaks, offer an inside look at how U.S. officials sometimes act as super-salesmen in promoting American products abroad. They also give a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes diplomatic intrigue that the United States, France and others engage in as they court such emerging powerhouse nations as Brazil.

Boeing is caught in the middle, as a simple sale of planes carries international ramifications. It's not an unusual position for Boeing and other major U.S. exporters to find themselves in.

Over the years, Boeing often has been a pawn in the U.S. relationship with China. When Chinese leaders are angry with the U.S., they place multibillion-dollar plane orders with France-based Airbus, Boeing's chief rival in the commercial jet market. When relations thaw, Boeing receives an order.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/12/16/105409/wikileaks-sheds-light-on-us-bid.html

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Officials pimping US manufacturing.

[Pavulon]

1. That's their job.

should they be pimping for EADS?

[sudopod]

3. Maybe manufacturing and selling more war machines is a bad thing?

:shrug:

[Pavulon]

4. I believe brazil is purchasing that equipment.

so why not attempt to sell them American equipment. The french will be trying to sell french jets.

[Kingofalldems]

2. Kick and rec

Someone trying to suppress these revelations.

[Demoiselle]

5. Why do the Brazilians need jet fighters?

I mean it as a practical question. Deep in the article it says they may ultimately purchase as many as 100. To be used to patrol their borders, the Amazon, etc.

Apparently Chile is buying, too. Is this a response to Chavez' posturing in Venezuela? Is there really a chance of war in Latin America?

[George1984]

7. Is there really a chance of war in North America?

I would imagine they are looking to protect themselves, rather than the U.S version of attacking for oil and profit.

[14thColony]

12. All three of the Southern Cone air forces are flying pretty outdated fighters

Mostly 1960s-1970s era French (and some US) designs, they have been extended, upgraded, and refitted as far as they can go. Once they start approaching end-of-life, you either buy new(er) ones or you go without. I would seriously doubt it has anything to do with Venezuela's military or President Chavez.

[Creative]

14. I think you answered your own question.

Chavez is stoking the fire in Latin America.

[Uncle Joe]

6. I believe one thing that doesn't help US/Brazil relations is the persecution of Assange.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4651465

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defended Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks.org website that published more than 250,000 of U.S. diplomatic cables sent to or from embassies around the world.

Furthermore in this particular case, it seems to me that Wikileaks exposure of candid U.S. diplomatic assessment actually helps the U.S. position.

As the competition heated up early last year, the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia urged high-ranking U.S. officials to become more involved and to press the case for the F/A-18. A cable to the State Department in early January 2009 noted that the only one buying the Rafale was the French air force.

"French representatives have tried to spin the Rafale's dismal performance in the global market to be the result of U.S. government political pressure rather than the aircraft's shortcomings," the cable said, adding that the FX2 decision will only "marginally be based on price and Brazil is most interested in using the purchase to bolster its domestic defense industry."

Thanks for the thread, IScreamSundays.

[Codeine]

8. Exactly what they are supposed to do.

Brazil is going to by jet fighters. Personally I think American workers benefit from the Brazilians buying planes manufactured here.

[IScreamSundays]

9. Well it is one of the few things that we manufacture anymore.

That is what my comment was directed towards.

[Pavulon]

10. W e manufacture quality. The problem is the walmart crap

accounts for most sales. If you want something that needs to work like a CT scanner it comes from the US, Germany, or Japan.

[14thColony]

13. Unfortunately I doubt they'd be manufactured in the US

When a country has a solid aerospace industry of its own like Brazil does (Embraer) the deal is almost always "we buy the initial x percent of the planes from you as kits that our industry assembles, then once they're comfortable with the process we produce the remaining airplanes start to finish ourselves." So after the initial small run of knock-down kits, the rest of the production happens in the other country.

It's still $$$ for the US corporation, but there may not be a direct correlation with continued job security for the US workers, or at least not as strong a one as you'd think.

[hunter]

11. I always wondered if U.S. export planes have a remote shutoff switch...

... sorta like those kill boxes car dealers put in their "bad credit, no credit" financed cars.

The USA or one of its minions invades you, and like damn, your U.S. bought war machines won't start.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

15. François Mitterrand was the best salesman Airbus, Dassault and Thales ever had,

Not seeing a problem here...