Hi Slezy, I don't know that impartiality is a requirement for a rumour network. You are correct though, there is resentment from folk who have dedicated large chunks of their lives to Coastwatch and AMSA, and they have been effectively thrown under the bus.what can you say of an organisation that is so arrogant that it turns away this level of expertise. This is also an indictment that the Commonwealth are happy to ignore this transfer of skills as unimportant.That coupled with the cost over runs and unsuitable airframe suggest that the selection was biaised to the foreign entity who now has a monopoly on the two most significant special mission contracts in Australia. Yep we are angry, and feeling betrayed.
Look out it can happen to any of us.