As a side note, this reminds me of the article in the newspaper two days ago which described the intense competition for the future US Air Force tanker contract, to replace the KC-135 (and KC-10?).
US politicians, mostly from Alabama, for example Senator Selby, were flown in a chartered Boeing jet to Toulouse, France.
EADS hopes to build the future tanker in Mobile, AL.
One or two of these politicians sit on influential committees in Washington, DC.
When billions of euros/dollars are at stake, some foreign politicians are suddenly becoming friendlier than usual.
