| Chapter Twenty-Three of Pax Americana: The Military Industrial Complex and the War On Terror by Danny Quintana |
| Planets, Oceans and Defense Contractors |
The main reason we do not spend more on planetary and ocean exploration is lack of political will. The capability is clearly there. Our country’
s defense contractors can build anything. And they do not want to blow up the world. In fact, the executives of these large public companies
want what other executives want, increasing revenue growth and increasing market share. A major world war with millions of global casualties
will not help any of these companies. The motivation for these executives is the same as for investors. They just want to make a buck.Greed
and fear have always been the driving engines of the arms race and the stock market.
The defense contractors, like the infamous "big oil" are owned by pension funds, 401k's, hedge funds, in short the American people. Being
mad at defense companies or big oil is simplistic as the enemy is in the mirror. It is not a bad thing that investors and public companies want
to make money. This keeps people employed, goods and services circulating and economic activity humming. The top 100 defense
contractors enjoy the benefits of an expanding market and a friendly administration. Life is good. And the money flow is heavy. The following
is a list of just ten of the top 100 defense contractors' Department of Defense contract awards for 2001.DoD Top 10 Contractors 1
s defense contractors can build anything. And they do not want to blow up the world. In fact, the executives of these large public companies
want what other executives want, increasing revenue growth and increasing market share. A major world war with millions of global casualties
will not help any of these companies. The motivation for these executives is the same as for investors. They just want to make a buck.Greed
and fear have always been the driving engines of the arms race and the stock market.
The defense contractors, like the infamous "big oil" are owned by pension funds, 401k's, hedge funds, in short the American people. Being
mad at defense companies or big oil is simplistic as the enemy is in the mirror. It is not a bad thing that investors and public companies want
to make money. This keeps people employed, goods and services circulating and economic activity humming. The top 100 defense
contractors enjoy the benefits of an expanding market and a friendly administration. Life is good. And the money flow is heavy. The following
is a list of just ten of the top 100 defense contractors' Department of Defense contract awards for 2001.DoD Top 10 Contractors 1
These companies are multi-market business enterprises that can engage in a host of business activities. Lockheed Martin is a prime example.
In addition to being the premier defense contractor on the planet, they also make products for space exploration. In their own words:
In addition to being the premier defense contractor on the planet, they also make products for space exploration. In their own words:
Human Exploration and Development of Space: The Space Shuttle is the cornerstone of this priority, and United Space Alliance (USA), a joint
venture between Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of the Shuttle
fleet. USA's responsibilities include Shuttle processing, launch and recovery. In addition, USA supports NASA through Shuttle mission
planning, software development, payload integration, as well as astronaut and flight controller training. Since the first Shuttle flight in 1981,
Lockheed Martin has supplied NASA with the External Tank which holds fuel for the Orbiter's main engines. 3 The Boeing Corporation
manufactures planes for our airlines and those of various companies worldwide. The company also produces missiles for our strategic
weapons program and manufactured the giant Sature rocket engines that took men to the moon. 4
All of us who are old enough clearly remember certain international events. We remember where we were when Kennedy was shot, the moon
landing, the ending of the Vietnam War, Challenger explosion, the Gulf War, Clinton’s impeachment and September 11th. We remember
these events because people were excited and it was clearly something that did not happen in the usual course of our lives.
Presidents do not get shot every day. At age six I was playing with my friends in the woods near my village in northern New Mexico. My
relatives were all crying. Kennedy was dead. We were all wondering if there would be a world war. Would bombs be dropped on the United
States? Irrational as these fears were we did not understand why such a horrible act could occur. The Catholic president was beloved by the
Hispanic community. He started the moon race, fought in World War II, loved his country, his people, other women, and suddenly he was
dead. His affairs were his private life that was off limits to the press and the public. What he did with other women was between he and his
lovely wife, Jacqueline.
From the comfort of age and distance, we realize that time passes so quickly. A mere six years later it is a hot summer night and I am sleeping
over at my cousin Tony’s house in Tooele, Utah. At age twelve it is early in the morning and the television cameras have Walter Cronkite
narrating the importance of this event. We all remember Neil Armstrong’s words, “One small step for man, one giant step for mankind.” And a
new era was supposed to begin for humanity. We all grew up flying model rockets that would be launched high into the sky and parachute
back to the ground. We were going to be astronauts.
The Vietnam War was in full force, students were protesting, politics were being discussed and people were dying. Debates were raging on
why Communism must be stopped. And poor young men were dying. I remember the race riots and the incredible racism from being a brown
face in a white town and a white school. Funerals for the troops that “fought for their country” were difficult. The priest would talk about honor
and service. I just saw a young Hispanic man that would never enjoy the many pleasures life has to offer. For him politics was over and the
fight between Communism and Capitalism no longer mattered.
venture between Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of the Shuttle
fleet. USA's responsibilities include Shuttle processing, launch and recovery. In addition, USA supports NASA through Shuttle mission
planning, software development, payload integration, as well as astronaut and flight controller training. Since the first Shuttle flight in 1981,
Lockheed Martin has supplied NASA with the External Tank which holds fuel for the Orbiter's main engines. 3 The Boeing Corporation
manufactures planes for our airlines and those of various companies worldwide. The company also produces missiles for our strategic
weapons program and manufactured the giant Sature rocket engines that took men to the moon. 4
All of us who are old enough clearly remember certain international events. We remember where we were when Kennedy was shot, the moon
landing, the ending of the Vietnam War, Challenger explosion, the Gulf War, Clinton’s impeachment and September 11th. We remember
these events because people were excited and it was clearly something that did not happen in the usual course of our lives.
Presidents do not get shot every day. At age six I was playing with my friends in the woods near my village in northern New Mexico. My
relatives were all crying. Kennedy was dead. We were all wondering if there would be a world war. Would bombs be dropped on the United
States? Irrational as these fears were we did not understand why such a horrible act could occur. The Catholic president was beloved by the
Hispanic community. He started the moon race, fought in World War II, loved his country, his people, other women, and suddenly he was
dead. His affairs were his private life that was off limits to the press and the public. What he did with other women was between he and his
lovely wife, Jacqueline.
From the comfort of age and distance, we realize that time passes so quickly. A mere six years later it is a hot summer night and I am sleeping
over at my cousin Tony’s house in Tooele, Utah. At age twelve it is early in the morning and the television cameras have Walter Cronkite
narrating the importance of this event. We all remember Neil Armstrong’s words, “One small step for man, one giant step for mankind.” And a
new era was supposed to begin for humanity. We all grew up flying model rockets that would be launched high into the sky and parachute
back to the ground. We were going to be astronauts.
The Vietnam War was in full force, students were protesting, politics were being discussed and people were dying. Debates were raging on
why Communism must be stopped. And poor young men were dying. I remember the race riots and the incredible racism from being a brown
face in a white town and a white school. Funerals for the troops that “fought for their country” were difficult. The priest would talk about honor
and service. I just saw a young Hispanic man that would never enjoy the many pleasures life has to offer. For him politics was over and the
fight between Communism and Capitalism no longer mattered.
Total Purchases $5,973,574,000
Fiscal 2001 Contract Awards ($000s)
Rank Parent Company Total DoD Air Force Army Navy
1 Lockheed Martin Corp. 15,130,223 9,565,352 2,210,540 3,063104
2 Boeing Co. 13,595,338 6,997,394 1,631,329 3,523822
3 Northrop Grumman Corp. 11,122,116 1,829,822 760,521 8,300,064
4 Raytheon Co. 5,875,142 1,803,774 1,779,475 1,970,512
5 General Dynamics Corp. 5,213,835 354,261 2,381,700 2,406.209
6 United Technologies Corp. 3,678,345 1,846,893 1,194,921 487,157
7 TRW Inc. 1,970,383 1,154,598 546,453 102,637
8 SAIC 1,774,863 511,144 480,926 394,814
9 General Electric Co. 1,682,903 580,287 262,196 666,453
10 Carlyle Group 1,413,968 175,624 968,440 256,704
Fiscal 2001 Contract Awards ($000s)
Rank Parent Company Total DoD Air Force Army Navy
1 Lockheed Martin Corp. 15,130,223 9,565,352 2,210,540 3,063104
2 Boeing Co. 13,595,338 6,997,394 1,631,329 3,523822
3 Northrop Grumman Corp. 11,122,116 1,829,822 760,521 8,300,064
4 Raytheon Co. 5,875,142 1,803,774 1,779,475 1,970,512
5 General Dynamics Corp. 5,213,835 354,261 2,381,700 2,406.209
6 United Technologies Corp. 3,678,345 1,846,893 1,194,921 487,157
7 TRW Inc. 1,970,383 1,154,598 546,453 102,637
8 SAIC 1,774,863 511,144 480,926 394,814
9 General Electric Co. 1,682,903 580,287 262,196 666,453
10 Carlyle Group 1,413,968 175,624 968,440 256,704
Northrop Grumman Newport News builds and maintains the most sophisticated ships in the
world – nuclear powered aircraft carriers and submarines. Our goals for the future are simple:
To strengthen and grow our leadership position in our core defense businesses, to effectively
manage technology insertion and systems integration, to become the life cycle manager for our
products and to deliver superior value and performance to our customers. With experience that
dates back more than a century, Newport News excels in every facet of shipbuilding design,
construction and maintenance. And with our exceptional employees and unparalleled
technology and facilities, we are looking ahead to an exciting future. 5
world – nuclear powered aircraft carriers and submarines. Our goals for the future are simple:
To strengthen and grow our leadership position in our core defense businesses, to effectively
manage technology insertion and systems integration, to become the life cycle manager for our
products and to deliver superior value and performance to our customers. With experience that
dates back more than a century, Newport News excels in every facet of shipbuilding design,
construction and maintenance. And with our exceptional employees and unparalleled
technology and facilities, we are looking ahead to an exciting future. 5
More and larger defense budgets will not bring us security and economic prosperity. It will only bring us more global violence and
unemployment. America’s defense contractors have the capability to build exploration vessels that can venture into the deepest recesses of
any ocean. We can also build spacecraft for exploration of the inner solar system. It is political decision, not
a technological one.
Northrop Grumman owns Newport News shipbuilding. From aircraft carriers to nuclear submarines in the company’s own words:
unemployment. America’s defense contractors have the capability to build exploration vessels that can venture into the deepest recesses of
any ocean. We can also build spacecraft for exploration of the inner solar system. It is political decision, not
a technological one.
Northrop Grumman owns Newport News shipbuilding. From aircraft carriers to nuclear submarines in the company’s own words:
 | |  | |  |
"Lockheed Martin Corporation is a customer-focused, global enterprise principally engaged in
the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology
systems, products and services for government and commercial customers. The Corporation's
core business areas are systems integration, aeronautics, space and technology services. The
Company's Systems Integration segment engages in the design, development, integration and
production of electronic systems for undersea, shipboard, land and airborne applications.
Space Systems is engaged in the design, development, engineering and production of
commercial and military space systems. Aeronautics designs, researches and develops,
produces, and supports combat and air mobility aircraft, surveillance/command,
reconnaissance, platform systems integration and advanced development programs.
Technology Services provides information management, engineering, scientific and logistic
services." 2
the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology
systems, products and services for government and commercial customers. The Corporation's
core business areas are systems integration, aeronautics, space and technology services. The
Company's Systems Integration segment engages in the design, development, integration and
production of electronic systems for undersea, shipboard, land and airborne applications.
Space Systems is engaged in the design, development, engineering and production of
commercial and military space systems. Aeronautics designs, researches and develops,
produces, and supports combat and air mobility aircraft, surveillance/command,
reconnaissance, platform systems integration and advanced development programs.
Technology Services provides information management, engineering, scientific and logistic
services." 2
Lockheed is one of NASA’s largest contractors. At times they will team up with other major defense contractors to accomplish incredible
projects, like the Space Shuttle.
projects, like the Space Shuttle.
I was in the Tooele High School auditorium watching a basketball game with my friends when it was announced over the intercom that the
Vietnam War was over. The United States would be withdrawing their troops. The 1973 Paris Peace Accords were signed by all parties.
A short time later, it is now 1986 and I am in my office in Salt Lake, as a young attorney with my pretty blonde secretary, it is announced over
the radio that the Challenger space shuttle exploded. Everyone was stunned. The space program was suddenly stopped in it’s tracks and as
a nation we questioned whether spending money on space was a proper use of tax dollars. Investigations ensued to determine how this could
have happened. But exploration is and always has been very dangerous. People will die. Just like in a major war.
Having sold tens of billions of dollars in arms to a madman in Saddam Hussein we were shocked in 1991 when Kuwait was invaded. Since was
sister was living in Dahahran, Saudi Arabia I called her the day after the invasion. There was a great deal of noise in the background. I asked
her what was going on. “That’s the 82nd Airborne. They are flying in.” I replied, “they can’t do that. They don’t have Congressional
authorization to deploy troops over there.” To which she informed me, “you better tell them that. The planes have been landing for the last 24
hours.”Bush Senior did a terrific job with Gulf War I. The Iraqi army would have gone into Saudi Arabia and conquered the entire country had
the United States not stopped them. Kuwait was too easy and the Saudis did not have the necessary forces to defend themselves from
aggression. Protecting the West’s supply of oil was the right thing to do. The war ended with very few American casualties. Iraqi troops were
slaughtered by the thousands. 4
On September 11, 2001 my girlfriend, now ex-wife comes in to the house screaming, “wake up, wake up terrorists have just attacked America
and killed thousands of people.” It is all over the television screens. The World Trade Center tower is on fire. I am watching the television as
the second plane hits. Tears of rage and sadness are rolling down my cheeks, “you mother fuckers. You are going to pay for this. You vicious
fucking pigs.” I thought at least 40,000 people died. Those great buildings looked like live creatures trying desperately to stay alive long
enough to let their precious children escape. Finally, having held up as long as they could, they collapsed in death, dust and debris. We were
a nation in shock.
Now we are at a historical crossroads. Through our massive military, the most powerful in mankind’s brief 7,000 years of “civilization”, we can
defeat any nation or any group of nations. We can defeat the armies of every nation on Earth combined. We are the undisputed heavyweight
champions. We are Pax Americana.
The top 100 defense contractors employ some of the world’s very best mechanical and civil engineers. The technical talent of our defense
contractors is second to none. Despite the brain drain caused by tying up technical talent that would be better used in the consumer
industries, we can build one hell of an aircraft carrier, or nuclear submarine and advanced fighter planes.
Vietnam War was over. The United States would be withdrawing their troops. The 1973 Paris Peace Accords were signed by all parties.
A short time later, it is now 1986 and I am in my office in Salt Lake, as a young attorney with my pretty blonde secretary, it is announced over
the radio that the Challenger space shuttle exploded. Everyone was stunned. The space program was suddenly stopped in it’s tracks and as
a nation we questioned whether spending money on space was a proper use of tax dollars. Investigations ensued to determine how this could
have happened. But exploration is and always has been very dangerous. People will die. Just like in a major war.
Having sold tens of billions of dollars in arms to a madman in Saddam Hussein we were shocked in 1991 when Kuwait was invaded. Since was
sister was living in Dahahran, Saudi Arabia I called her the day after the invasion. There was a great deal of noise in the background. I asked
her what was going on. “That’s the 82nd Airborne. They are flying in.” I replied, “they can’t do that. They don’t have Congressional
authorization to deploy troops over there.” To which she informed me, “you better tell them that. The planes have been landing for the last 24
hours.”Bush Senior did a terrific job with Gulf War I. The Iraqi army would have gone into Saudi Arabia and conquered the entire country had
the United States not stopped them. Kuwait was too easy and the Saudis did not have the necessary forces to defend themselves from
aggression. Protecting the West’s supply of oil was the right thing to do. The war ended with very few American casualties. Iraqi troops were
slaughtered by the thousands. 4
On September 11, 2001 my girlfriend, now ex-wife comes in to the house screaming, “wake up, wake up terrorists have just attacked America
and killed thousands of people.” It is all over the television screens. The World Trade Center tower is on fire. I am watching the television as
the second plane hits. Tears of rage and sadness are rolling down my cheeks, “you mother fuckers. You are going to pay for this. You vicious
fucking pigs.” I thought at least 40,000 people died. Those great buildings looked like live creatures trying desperately to stay alive long
enough to let their precious children escape. Finally, having held up as long as they could, they collapsed in death, dust and debris. We were
a nation in shock.
Now we are at a historical crossroads. Through our massive military, the most powerful in mankind’s brief 7,000 years of “civilization”, we can
defeat any nation or any group of nations. We can defeat the armies of every nation on Earth combined. We are the undisputed heavyweight
champions. We are Pax Americana.
The top 100 defense contractors employ some of the world’s very best mechanical and civil engineers. The technical talent of our defense
contractors is second to none. Despite the brain drain caused by tying up technical talent that would be better used in the consumer
industries, we can build one hell of an aircraft carrier, or nuclear submarine and advanced fighter planes.
Only a handful of nations possess aircraft carriers. These nations are primarily from Western Europe. Even India with a population of
approximately one billion has an aircraft carrier. Brazil and Argentina who have economies that are in shambles have aircraft carriers. 6
These are horrendously expensive pieces of equipment. The total life cycle cost of a Nimitz class aircraft approximately $22 Billion Dollars. 7
And this is for just one carrier. We have a fleet of carriers to project our military power anywhere in the world. 8
approximately one billion has an aircraft carrier. Brazil and Argentina who have economies that are in shambles have aircraft carriers. 6
These are horrendously expensive pieces of equipment. The total life cycle cost of a Nimitz class aircraft approximately $22 Billion Dollars. 7
And this is for just one carrier. We have a fleet of carriers to project our military power anywhere in the world. 8
on defense they converted the largest creditor nation on Earth to the largest debtor. Now, the interest on the national debt is at least
25% of the entire Federal Budget. 9
Continuing in this direction is a path to certain financial ruin. What will it cost to explore the oceans? Certainly it will be less then the price of
one aircraft carrier or one nuclear submarine. The problem with deep sea exploration is it is very difficult. Ocean pressure increases with
depth. If this was easy the remaining 95 percent of the unexplored oceans would already be explored. Since Newport News is in the
shipbuilding business and has tremendous expertise, as do their competitors, it only makes sense to have Congress allocate a deep sea
exploration program.
Our nuclear submarines are the best in the world. The Virginia Class submarines:
25% of the entire Federal Budget. 9
Continuing in this direction is a path to certain financial ruin. What will it cost to explore the oceans? Certainly it will be less then the price of
one aircraft carrier or one nuclear submarine. The problem with deep sea exploration is it is very difficult. Ocean pressure increases with
depth. If this was easy the remaining 95 percent of the unexplored oceans would already be explored. Since Newport News is in the
shipbuilding business and has tremendous expertise, as do their competitors, it only makes sense to have Congress allocate a deep sea
exploration program.
Our nuclear submarines are the best in the world. The Virginia Class submarines:
….will maintain the nation’s undersea supremacy well into the 21st century
….require seven years to design and five years to build
.…are 377 feet long, 34 feet in diameter, and displace 7,800 tons submerged
….are capable of submerged speeds in excess of 25 knots
….have a crew complement of 100 sailors and officers
….can stay submerged for periods of up to 3 months at a time.10
….require seven years to design and five years to build
.…are 377 feet long, 34 feet in diameter, and displace 7,800 tons submerged
….are capable of submerged speeds in excess of 25 knots
….have a crew complement of 100 sailors and officers
….can stay submerged for periods of up to 3 months at a time.10
These submarines are the best weapon systems in their class in human history. One submarine armed with nuclear missiles can destroy 200
cities. 11 But they have almost no capability for deep sea exploration. It is not that we cannot build a very large submarine for this purpose.
Newport News is a world-class ship builder and can design and build any type of sea vessel. It is just that Congress in their infinite wisdom has
not commissioned the exploration of the oceans as a high priority item. The leadership is not there to initiate this program.
With regards to exploration of the inner solar system there is the same lack of political leadership. The last time a man was on the moon was
over 30 years ago. After we reached the moon and failed to strike gold or oil we gave up on further exploration. But you need volcanic
activity for gold and vegetation for oil and the moon fails on both counts. But other worlds within our own solar system may not. Europa has
volcanic activity and some of the larger planets like Jupiter and Neptune appear to be composed of various gases.
cities. 11 But they have almost no capability for deep sea exploration. It is not that we cannot build a very large submarine for this purpose.
Newport News is a world-class ship builder and can design and build any type of sea vessel. It is just that Congress in their infinite wisdom has
not commissioned the exploration of the oceans as a high priority item. The leadership is not there to initiate this program.
With regards to exploration of the inner solar system there is the same lack of political leadership. The last time a man was on the moon was
over 30 years ago. After we reached the moon and failed to strike gold or oil we gave up on further exploration. But you need volcanic
activity for gold and vegetation for oil and the moon fails on both counts. But other worlds within our own solar system may not. Europa has
volcanic activity and some of the larger planets like Jupiter and Neptune appear to be composed of various gases.
It is not that we cannot build spacecraft for exploration of the inner solar system, again Congress has failed in providing leadership. But that is
to be expected from political creatures that have as much spine as jellyfish. Lockheed Martin, Rayethon, Northrop Grumman and the various
other beltway bandits have armies of engineers looking for projects that will continue their careers and enrich their company’s coffers.
In awarding the largest defense contract in history, over $200 Billion Dollars, Congress and the Bush administration committed the United
States to building the controversial Joint Strike Fighter. 12 Whether the nation needs this fighter plane is not an issue. How a plane of this
type will stop a criminal religious zealot with a stick of dynamite strapped to some radioactive hospital waste is also a mystery.
And if this very expensive piece of hardware was not enough, Lockheed Martin is also the contractor for the F/A 22 Raptor. This is an
amazing piece of hardware. The capabilities of this combat aircraft are truly a technological marvel.
In Lockheed Martin’s own words:
to be expected from political creatures that have as much spine as jellyfish. Lockheed Martin, Rayethon, Northrop Grumman and the various
other beltway bandits have armies of engineers looking for projects that will continue their careers and enrich their company’s coffers.
In awarding the largest defense contract in history, over $200 Billion Dollars, Congress and the Bush administration committed the United
States to building the controversial Joint Strike Fighter. 12 Whether the nation needs this fighter plane is not an issue. How a plane of this
type will stop a criminal religious zealot with a stick of dynamite strapped to some radioactive hospital waste is also a mystery.
And if this very expensive piece of hardware was not enough, Lockheed Martin is also the contractor for the F/A 22 Raptor. This is an
amazing piece of hardware. The capabilities of this combat aircraft are truly a technological marvel.
In Lockheed Martin’s own words:
supersonic cruise, agility and advanced integrated avionics, it will dominate the skies over any
future battlefield and bring unequaled capability into the hands of America’s Air Force fighter
pilots. Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Pratt & Whitney have joined with the U.S. Air Force to
develop and produce the revolutionary F/A-22 . The world’s first stealth air-to-air fighter, the F/A-
22 will be unseen and deadly at long range and unmatched at close-in dogfighting. As a true
multi-mission fighter, it will also have superb, precision-strike ground attack capability.
A multi-mode electronically scanned radar, internal weapons carriage, vectored thrust and a
sophisticated fully integrated sensor array are only some of the revolutionary advantages that
Raptor brings to the air combat arena. Slated to become operational in late 2005, the F/A-22 will
replace the U.S. Air Force's aging fleet of F-15 Eagle fighters.
The F/A-22 is the first production aircraft with the ability to supercruise–flying at supersonic
speeds without the use of afterburners. The Raptor achieves this by combining efficient
aerodynamic design with two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines, rated in the 35,000-lb
thrust category. Designed and built with reliability and maintainability in mind, the F/A-22 offers
new capability to deploy and fight on day one. Twice as reliable and capable as its
predecessors, it will allow the Air Force to get to the fight faster, stay longer and fly more
missions than any conventional fighter aircraft. 13
future battlefield and bring unequaled capability into the hands of America’s Air Force fighter
pilots. Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Pratt & Whitney have joined with the U.S. Air Force to
develop and produce the revolutionary F/A-22 . The world’s first stealth air-to-air fighter, the F/A-
22 will be unseen and deadly at long range and unmatched at close-in dogfighting. As a true
multi-mission fighter, it will also have superb, precision-strike ground attack capability.
A multi-mode electronically scanned radar, internal weapons carriage, vectored thrust and a
sophisticated fully integrated sensor array are only some of the revolutionary advantages that
Raptor brings to the air combat arena. Slated to become operational in late 2005, the F/A-22 will
replace the U.S. Air Force's aging fleet of F-15 Eagle fighters.
The F/A-22 is the first production aircraft with the ability to supercruise–flying at supersonic
speeds without the use of afterburners. The Raptor achieves this by combining efficient
aerodynamic design with two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines, rated in the 35,000-lb
thrust category. Designed and built with reliability and maintainability in mind, the F/A-22 offers
new capability to deploy and fight on day one. Twice as reliable and capable as its
predecessors, it will allow the Air Force to get to the fight faster, stay longer and fly more
missions than any conventional fighter aircraft. 13
The problem again is the employees of Lockheed Martin do not want to lose their jobs. Nobody wants to be unemployed. But if the choice is
cutting the defense budget and more unemployment in some corrupt Congressman’s district or building fighter planes, your trusted public
employee is going to spend on defense.
Even with these massive defense contracts, workers are seldom protected. The machinist union had to strike Lockheed after losing jobs to
make this monolith defense monopoly even more profitable. As the machinists observed:
cutting the defense budget and more unemployment in some corrupt Congressman’s district or building fighter planes, your trusted public
employee is going to spend on defense.
Even with these massive defense contracts, workers are seldom protected. The machinist union had to strike Lockheed after losing jobs to
make this monolith defense monopoly even more profitable. As the machinists observed:
“Only 12 years ago, more than 14,000 IAM members worked for Lockheed Martin in Georgia,
Mississippi and West Virginia. Today, there are only 2,800 IAM jobs left, and all the company
wanted to discuss were ways to outsource and subcontract even more jobs,” said IAM
AerospaceCoordinator John Crowdis. 14
Mississippi and West Virginia. Today, there are only 2,800 IAM jobs left, and all the company
wanted to discuss were ways to outsource and subcontract even more jobs,” said IAM
AerospaceCoordinator John Crowdis. 14
Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Rayethon and the various other air force contractors can land men on the moon and/or build the necessary
shadows they cannot see the wisdom of starting a program that extends beyond their next election. If our ancestors were such cowards we
would still be in Europe and the Aztecs would still be sacrificing humans to their various gods. Politicians are cowards. Exploration takes
courage. Our military has the courage to explore the oceans and outer space. They just do not have this mission. Instead, weapons systems
they don’t want are shoved down their throats. The defense contractors are in it for the money.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Top 100 Defense Contractors, August 15, 2002, GovExec.com at: http://207.27.3.29 /top200/02top/s3chart1.htm This data is now
outdated as the top 100 has received billions more. The cost of the Iraq war is truly and national disgrace that has harmed not just the
families of the dead and wounded, but all of us.
2. Lockheed Martin’s financial profile at:http://biz.yahoo.com/p/l/lmt.html
3. Ibid, at:www.lockheedmartin.com/about/our_customers/nasa.html
4. U.S. General Ordered Massacre of Iraqi Soldiers at:http://leb.net/pipermail/lexington-net/2000-June/002084.html
5. Newport News at Northrop Grumman’s web site at:www.nns.com/
6. World Aircraft Carriers List: Carriers Summary by Andrew Toppan, Nov 2001 at:www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/summary.htm
7. See Federation of American Scientists, Military Analysis, US Navy Ships at:www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/cvn-68.htm
8. Ibid, at:www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/index.html
9. "I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers. To preserve our independence,
we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826 Some very interesting information on the national
debt can be found at:www.geocities.com/cmcofer/interest.html
10. Nuclear News website at:www.nns.com/products/subs/submarines.stm
11. See generally the Federation of American Scientists web site at:www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/cvn-68.htm
12. Lockheed Martin’s web site at:www.lockheedmartin.com/factsheets/product20.html
13. Ibid at:www.lockheedmartin.com/factsheets/product2.html
14. Machinists Strike for Job Security at Lockheed Tuesday March 12, 2002, Imail at:
www.iamaw.org/publications/imail/imail_03_12_2002.htm
shadows they cannot see the wisdom of starting a program that extends beyond their next election. If our ancestors were such cowards we
would still be in Europe and the Aztecs would still be sacrificing humans to their various gods. Politicians are cowards. Exploration takes
courage. Our military has the courage to explore the oceans and outer space. They just do not have this mission. Instead, weapons systems
they don’t want are shoved down their throats. The defense contractors are in it for the money.
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1. Top 100 Defense Contractors, August 15, 2002, GovExec.com at: http://207.27.3.29 /top200/02top/s3chart1.htm This data is now
outdated as the top 100 has received billions more. The cost of the Iraq war is truly and national disgrace that has harmed not just the
families of the dead and wounded, but all of us.
2. Lockheed Martin’s financial profile at:http://biz.yahoo.com/p/l/lmt.html
3. Ibid, at:www.lockheedmartin.com/about/our_customers/nasa.html
4. U.S. General Ordered Massacre of Iraqi Soldiers at:http://leb.net/pipermail/lexington-net/2000-June/002084.html
5. Newport News at Northrop Grumman’s web site at:www.nns.com/
6. World Aircraft Carriers List: Carriers Summary by Andrew Toppan, Nov 2001 at:www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/summary.htm
7. See Federation of American Scientists, Military Analysis, US Navy Ships at:www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/cvn-68.htm
8. Ibid, at:www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/index.html
9. "I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers. To preserve our independence,
we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826 Some very interesting information on the national
debt can be found at:www.geocities.com/cmcofer/interest.html
10. Nuclear News website at:www.nns.com/products/subs/submarines.stm
11. See generally the Federation of American Scientists web site at:www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/cvn-68.htm
12. Lockheed Martin’s web site at:www.lockheedmartin.com/factsheets/product20.html
13. Ibid at:www.lockheedmartin.com/factsheets/product2.html
14. Machinists Strike for Job Security at Lockheed Tuesday March 12, 2002, Imail at:
www.iamaw.org/publications/imail/imail_03_12_2002.htm
| and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man."—President John F. Kennedy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, Sept. 12, 1962 |