LBPOST.com: Defense Budget Calls To Eliminate C-17 Program

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Defense Budget Calls To Eliminate C-17 Program

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 02.01.10 |

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Update | �Boeing To Focus On International C-17 Sales
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1:40pm | A budget submitted by the Department of Defense today calls for an end to the Boeing C-17 program despite containing a record $708 billion in spending, several news outlets are reporting.

The Boeing C-17 is assembled almost entirely here in Long Beach and provides about 5,000 jobs to the region.

The Obama Administration is attempting to cease the program and others like it in favor of smaller, unmanned aircraft. Last year (Fiscal Year 2010), the Department allocated $2.5 billion towards new C-17 aircraft but this year (Fiscal Year 2011) will not submit any new orders after the current run is completed.

As this Politico article explains, Congress traditionally will attempt to tack on spending for the C-17 and programs like it when they do not make it into the original budget. But Politico's Jen Dimascio reports that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will take a hard stand against any Congressional add-ons.

Click here to read another informative article by Wall Street Journal reporter August Cole.

Several foreign nations have ordered C-17 aircraft and extended its production life for at least a few more years, but the loss of U.S. orders would be a heavy blow to the program.

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Comments

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30 Comments so far.

John Greet
It's just a matter of time before first U.S. Defense expenditures for the C-17 and then international interest in this most excellent airlifter wane and then end altogether. What planning is Boeing doing to prepare for that eventuality (if any). If Boeing terminates aircraft manufacturing in Long Beach altogether, what planning are the City and current Boeing workers doing to prepare for that eventuality? This planning needs to be happening *now* because if we wait until Boeing starts handing out the pink slips we'll all have waited far too long indeed.

Susan
shaking my head..Obama is an idiot!

DAN
The Obama Administration just can't keep their dirty hands off anything.

mike woodward
THINK, before you comment Susan, what degree do you hold and just what is your contribution to this country. Probably absolutely nothing so how can you call someone else an idiot. Try running a country with backbiters like you at every corner, its very difficult to do.

MrDZYN
I like the C-17. I know that unmanned aircraft are doing great things but the C-17 acts as a "force multiplier." Our military continues to be overextended - the C-17 helps them do more with less. PS to Susan: I take it W was your idea of a "genius"?

Matt
Everyone hates wasteful government spending until it's cut from their district.

Born in LB
C17 is not only a miltary plane but a plane for supporting delivery of supplies during times of disaster. Haiti, Katrina, etc.... What a big mistake. And Obaman said he wants JOBS. Here is an example of where tens of thousand and good paying jobs will disappear.

Marlyne
I just do not understand why there cannot be CIVIL disagreement. If you can't say something in a nice way, say nothing at all. Your Mom

Clueless_in_LB
Obamie's talks about creating jobs while cutting grov. waste. Well he cut out some waste and just put a lot more people on the unemployment line.

Jon in LB
FUNNY: "Susan: I take it W was your idea of a "genius"? " Ever notice that most of the reasons/problems that people are mad at Obama for, they supported W in creating in the first place? You can always spot these people, their tagline is: "Yeah, blame it all on Bush".... Too bad Bush put us in our worst debt ever (yes, more than Obama has spent), otherwise, we would not have to worry about cuts to the C-17 and other programs. BUSH BROKE US. Obama is trying to fix it. Bush left the dinner table without paying the bill. When Obama has to pay, everyone screams. Yell at Bush, people. He took us from black way deep into the red.

chuck
Susan, Only an idiot would think that Obama is NOT an idiot. chuck

Susan
Jon: you are also an idiot to assume I voted for "W" Yes, Bush and the GOP were fiscally irresponsible, but they were nothing like this off-the-charts recklessness. There are twelve zeros in a trillion. This is Five thousand BILLION dollars. This is insane. Obama's supporters are insane - Suicidally insane for themselves - Murderously insane for their children.

retired AF Col
The air force needs a certain amount of airlift capability and pilotless aircraft don't do this job; however, the issue is twofold: we have a choice between upgrading C5 aircraft or retiring them and building C17s as we probably don't need more airplanes. Both options are very expensive as they rely on overpriced union workers and cost impacts foreign sales. Boeing needs assembly operation for 787 aircraft, but no one is negotiating for a non-union operation. Boeing is starting non-unionized assembly in Charleston, SC. Is there any council member or mayor that willingly negotiates on such an option? We don't have another plan B.

CHARLIE
Well, Ryan, this bit of news was bound to generate all kinds of negative & defensive comments from the people, but, I've got to say it - what W did was cover our butts defensively and economically with the best national security possible as his main objective; What Obama is doing is stifling our Nation's growth and security since his taking office...

Grumpy Guy
Oh boy... the same old "They did it"... "No, they did it". When are all you tit for tatters going to figure out that we have ONE party in the U.S., the Corporate Party.

David
Just keep building them forever, never stop. Every City with an airport should get two. Then we can have people live in them, yea homless shelters...

Joseph E
Bad news for Long Beach, good news for America and the world. Building military planes "stimulates" the local economy, but the military does not need more of these planes. Our security will be just as good without them, and we will have more money to spend on building infrastructure here. New flood drains, anyone?

Bill
Having previously worked as an engineer on this program, I can say that there's not much left to do. The C-17 never crashes (due to mechanical failure at least), it never breaks down, and it's expensive. The U.S. sure doesn't need any more because some of the first planes are still flying strong and being updated periodically. Other world countries may have cheaper options within their own borders so Boeing would have to really sweeten the pot to yield international profit. The morale of the workers/staff at the Long Beach site is at an all-time-low. Why beat a dead horse? Those 5,000 jobs disappearing will definitely hurt local economy. If Long Beach is so worried about losing the work force then what they should be doing is approaching Boeing with concerns on the future of the facility itself. Because without the C-17, there really is no need for the huge hangars and large office facility. We've already seen it across the runway with Douglas Park. Obama really has little to do with this except for timing. All through Bush's tenure, CEO's and Gov. Arnold reminded us of the grim facts: the C-17 program is soon to be over. Sad, but true. Time to find something else that Long Beach can make themselves proud with.

Aaron
I agree with John. Sure it is bad for our local economy. But it's not like this is old news. They've been trying to stop production for years now. Why aren't we looking for an industry to replace this one? Things change. We need to change with the times, not bury our heads in the sand and complain about it. The government wastes a ridiculous amount of money on things we don't need and pays three times as much as they should for the things we do need. Imagine how much MORE we could create infrastructure wise if we simply looked at the costs and started paying what these things are actually worth as opposed to lining contractor pockets.

Had Enough?
Thanks the Democrats for the 2010 New Obama Budget to create jobs?? Ya -- let's layoff more workers. Just remember "Its Goverment of the people, by the people and for the People"!!!!!! Lets take it back soon!!

Jeremy Colonna
This is just another example of our well intentioned government lacking the foresight necessary to fully appreciate their actions. They just gave Long Beach a $22M grant to help deal with foreclosures and neighborhood blight. One week later, they announce that they are going to be putting several thousand residents out of work! Nice work guys. There is a lot of talk about our dependence on foreign oil, because it empowers our enemies. What can be said about our dependence on our own government?

Clueless_in_LB
Ok folks so maybe Boeing can't build the C-17 for ever. The Goverment under Mr Obamies leadership is cutting cost with one hand and giving away 22 million with the other. One hand cuts 100's if not thousnds of jobs as the other helps 111 people to buy houses that they can't allow in the first place. Can anyone figure out what he's doing?

CW
Susan, Dan and Chuck, how thoughtful and profound your comments are! The fact is The Bush administration through recommendations from the defense department also thought that we had enough C-17s. Last year, based again on recommendations from the defense department, John McCain tried to stop funding. Of course how can anyone argue with such intelligent, lucid and open minded arguments such as yours?

tedi
As a country, we'll have nothing left to protect when the population becomes a mob of illiterate rage-aholics and obese diabetics...but the top 5% will have theirs...as the rest of us try to pay our taxes.

Mark
There was a time when 30 or 40 thousand people worked on aircraft in LB and Torrance. The population on the C-17 was 9,000 only 10 years ago. Boeing closed the MACDAC plants when it bought the company and would have long ago closed the C-17 were it not a cash cow. The original buy on the C-17s 20 years ago ws 200. Then the program got in deep, deep trouble the early 90's. It was almost cancelled and overrun by $3.0 billion. The buy was cut to 60 before the program turned around. It almost died in 1994 but lived on to its eventual fruition. But any $$ we use to pay for it will be borrowed dollars. We need to move on from aerospace; it is over in LB.

LB Resident
It is naive to say that the gov't is stupid to give us $22M for foreclosures and takes away 5000 jobs for building C17 aircraft. We don't need more airlift airplanes; however, Boeing needs to assemble many 787 commercial aircraft. Long Beach can offer Boeing massive state tax credits as hanger is inside the enterprise zone. What we don't have is reliable, quality, inexpensive labor costs. Someone said the C17 workforce is demotivated; exactly some workers contaminated special paint and an aircraft had to be stripped of paint last year due to deliberate sabbotage by workers. Boeing has a union in Kansas that is reliable and cost effective. Our Mayor needs to negotiate with the or select the right union leadership to give Boeing a reliable promise of an efficient workforce. The mechanics union in Seattle went on strike last year and lost its relationship with Boeing, as did the 717 union at McDonnel Douglas in Long Beach. The key is to deal with a trustworthy union leadership that won't get greedy after a contract is signed.

Grumpy Guy
Many of my customers are Boeing employees. Cutting the C-17 is likely to have an affect on my income too! So I say... cut that fat flying pig and don't look back. All you bellyachers need to grow a spine and face the dawn. Nothing stays the same forever. The damn DOD, the main customer, doesn't want the thing so we should just keep building it anyway to save a lot of antiquated jobs? Are you guys nuts? It's time to move on, stop whining and deal with it. Maybe Boeing should use it the place to build the commercial solar panels that they are R&Ding right now. Or maybe thay could build a competitor to the Tesla electric car. Or maybe they could get into wind turbines (no more movie studios though, we have enough dumb distractions). Boeing has talent and top notch manufacturing facilities that should be used to feed expanding markets, notdying ones. Unless you think the workers should be planning the market, ala Karl Marx, stop crying and get a new plan.

Why's Obama an idiot?
Everyone wants to keep their jobs, not make cuts, continue spending and then blame the party opposite there's for all of the waste. I know it brings jobs, but do we NEED expensive planes? Is there some sort of shortage or we asking the gov't to continue its debt because its holding up a portion of the economy. When will we learn, unsustainable is unsustainable and we must stop running our nation on credit!

Steve
Perhaps Susan's comments on Obama were intemperate, but they pale in comparison with how the Angry Left characterized Bush. And I don't remember any minimum level of education or achievement required to attack Bush, as Mike Woodward says is a prerequisite for attacking Obama.

JohnAllenD
Yes, as long as red state jobs are at stake, we need to keep this unnecessary project. The Pentagon doesn't need them. But, Kit Bond and other phonies want to keep it. Now, you all can continue with your Obama hating--if Bush were doing the same thing you'd embrace it.

Long Beach News

LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.

Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.

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