Ken Schram: Dear Boeing, I was wrong

Ken Schram: Dear Boeing, I was wrong

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Story Published: Jun 19, 2008 at 12:08 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 9:56 PM PDT

By Ken Schram

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SEATTLE -- I was wrong.

Not just kinda wrong, I was so-far-off-the-mark-I-wasn't-even-in-the-neighborhood wrong.

Back when the Air Force awarded its tanker contract to Airbus, I castigated and ridiculed Boeing brass for their arrogance, supplier problems and subcontractor outsourcing as being a large part of why the Air Force went shopping elsewhere.

There were lots of reason - good reasons - as to why I arrived at that conclusion, but that makes no difference.

I was wrong.

After carefully reviewing the contract process, government auditors found 7 major mistakes made by the Air Force that gave Airbus a big time leg up in the competitive procedures.

Basically, it comes down to the military messing up the capabilities and costs of the Airbus tanker versus the Boeing tanker.

Given how much I "harrumphed" and harangued about this back in early March, I figured it's only right to fess up to the fact that I botched this one.

Anyway, it's still up to Boeing to win this tanker contract.

I'm thinking that this time around things will be done a little differently and a lot more fairly.

Betcha I've got that right.

Have something to say to Ken? E-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com.

And be sure to join Ken, along with John Carlson, on "The Commentators", which airs every weekday from 3-6 p.m. on AM 570 KVI.

It's a lively exchange of information, insight and perspective with two guys who don't agree on much, but still manage to enjoy each other as they tackle issues of the day. Even better, callers are invited in on the verbal action.

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