The latest episode of Al Jazeera English's program, Empire, focuses on increases in military spending and highlights some controversial U.S. programs, such as the F-35 extra engine and C-17.  You can check it out on Al Jazeera all this week or online here.  My portion begins around the 26 minute mark, but it's definitely worth watching the whole thing.

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Security Matters, Shameless Self Promotion, Al Jazeera, f136, C-17 (all tags)

GE at AFA's conference last week.

Last week, while opposing sides Pratt & Whitney and GE/Rolls Royce faced off at the Air Force Association’s annual conference at the National Harbor, the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee dropped funding for GE/Rolls Royce’s F-35 extra engine.  The decision could ultimately prove irrelevant, since predictions have the bill moving forward through an omnibus or continuing resolution, but was important politically nonetheless.

Naturally, Pratt & Whitney did a little dance, stating:

This Senate action is a clear message that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense supports President Obama and Secretary Gates in their position that funding an alternate engine will not save taxpayer’s money or improve military readiness in any way.

GE and Rolls Royce, on the other hand, seemed to sit stunned in silence… until Thursday.

Thursday brought new news from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the potential cost of funding an extra engine.  Highlights after the jump...

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Security Matters, F-35, f136, Levin, SAC-D, GAO (all tags)