IS THIS SERIOUS? – AT 10:12 A.M. ET:  Well, we have this tradition.  Before World War II we sold scrap iron to Japan, and it came back in the form of warships.  And some American companies had major interests in Nazi Germany, with which they shared technology.  But, you know, our weapons were made here.  We didn't farm out B-17 production to potential enemies.  Apparently, times have changed.  From Fox News:

BEIJING—The maker of China's new stealth fighter jet has teamed up with a tiny, unprofitable California company to try to launch bids for U.S. defense contracts, possibly including one to supply Chinese helicopters to replace the aging Marine One fleet used by the president, according to people involved in the partnership.

Any Chinese bids for this or another contract under discussion would be certain to meet intense political resistance and would appear to have very little chance of success given mounting U.S. concern about China's military power and long-term strategic goals, and the often-prohibitive opposition in the past to Chinese attempts to enter other strategic U.S. sectors, such as energy and telecommunications.

However, the fact that state-run China Aviation Industry Corp., known as AVIC, is even considering bids for these contracts, which industry insiders expect to be awarded in the next two to three years, reflects the rapid development and lofty ambitions of China's aerospace industry.

COMMENT:  If this president starts flying around in a Marine One made in China, I think he should be denied landing rights.  Or maybe he could come down in a bed of chow mein, and walk through it.

Geez.

February 4, 2011