Originally Posted by
WHBM
I think almost everyone here would wish any aircraft selection, civil or military, to be on the basis of competent technical studies, adequate budgeting and justification, and allied points. Having politicians make statements with them in response to lobbying is surely what all the posters above are railing against in the first place.
That's the spirit. Problem is the original USAF tanker selection was not based on those principles, but successful lobbying on behalf of Boeing inside the beltway.