Selling out America

BAE a British company which is the biggest foreign supplier to the Pentagon has bought United Defense, the maker of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

America is beginning to outsource the most important part of its industrial base : the Defense industry.

To some this may not seem important, as Britain is a close ally of the US. However there is nothing to stop the British company from selling off United Defense. Or indeed from being bought out itself. And it is not inconcievable that there would come a time in which America and Britain might not be on such Friendly terms.

While some might not see why this could be so vitally important, it must be remembered that the Bradley is the main combat vehicle of the US military. Its' use far more widespread than the picture americans get of warfare as it is the main combat transport of infantry and is designed precisely to move infantry under fire against hostile troops.

You have to wonder: What will be next. Will Lockheed or Boeing be next? Or Colt? (Manufacturer of the M-16). UPDATE (thanks Booman) According to the Washington Post :

Yesterday's announcement that BAE Systems PLC of Britain will acquire Arlington-based United Defense Industries Inc. further emphasizes the interplay between foreign and American defense companies. The new openness raises the prospect that the Air Force will seriously entertain a European bid to replace its refueling tanker planes after a Boeing Co. deal collapsed last year in an ethics scandal at the company. Sikorsky will face two foreign rivals -- the British-Italian company AgustaWestland Inc. and Eurocopter, the world's biggest helicopter maker -- in a $10 billion Air Force competition to build search-and-rescue choppers. Also on the horizon is an Army decision on whether to replace the M16 rifle, designed by Connecticut-based Colt Defense LLC, with a German-designed gun. "I have often said that we in the United States have never had a global monopoly on good ideas or on innovation," said Suzanne D. Patrick, the deputy undersecretary of defense for industrial policy.

Welcome to the outsourcing of the American Defense Industry. At some point one has to consider if the China financed Right Wing is actively seeking to destroy the american economy and its' ability to defend itself.