Washington, D.C. – The following is a written statement from Keith Ashdown, Vice President at Taxpayers for Common Sense:

The tanker lease is an overpriced dead duck that is never going to fly. The lease crashed and burned under its own waste and excess and hopefully this report finally puts it out of its misery. The report categorically shows that the Air Force was willing to buy less of a tanker for more money to the benefit of Boeing, but at the expense of troops and taxpayers. It is crystal clear that the post 9-11 climate made Boeing think they could sell the nation a bill of goods and that the Air Force gave up all its fiduciary responsibility of making sure that we got the most bang for the buck in leasing tankers.

The Air Force was willing to give up audit rights, and lease an overpriced plane which didn’t meet the necessary operational requirements. This report shows that no one was minding the store and acting as the last line of defense from the greed of the military-industrial complex. This further confirms hat it is unclear where the Blue Uniforms of the Air Force end and the pin stripes of Boeing executives begin.

Contact: Keith Ashdown
(202) 546-8500 x110