Should Republicans go ahead and add Supreme Court Justices to head off Democrats

Military buying supplies in global market place

NY Times:

Before the Iraq war, one of the Pentagon's biggest concerns was that American troops would face unknown biological and chemical threats. But when the order came in to step up production of two-piece protective suits, the Pentagon had to look overseas to get all the parts - even to countries that opposed the war.

The polyester fabric used by American companies to make the suits came from Germany and Austria. Finnish and British manufacturers made the eyelets and washers, while Japan provided the carbon beads in the suit's liner. Critical to the suit's protection was a fabric available only in Germany, one of the war's strongest critics.

At one time, the Pentagon could have obtained all it needed in the United States, but no longer. Nor does it want to. Instead, the Pentagon's latest weapons buying list has a distinctly global tinge. From the military's point of view, the United States no longer has a lock on research and technology and has no choice but to look overseas. And foreign contractors are eager to get a piece of the American military budget, which dwarfs that of any other nation.

The military industry sees 2005 as a watershed year, despite concern from some members of Congress over this growing foreign presence. The newest Army spy plane will be a variation of one made by Embraer of Brazil. All the proposals for a coastal combat ship are based on foreign designs. Twelve of the biggest weapon systems used in Iraq - including Predator drones and Tomahawk missiles - could not be built without foreign suppliers.

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Foreign suppliers represent a tiny share of Pentagon spending. But their role has been growing rapidly even as Representative Duncan Hunter, Republican of California and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, leads efforts to tighten "Buy America" laws enacted in the 1930's but later weakened. The foreign connection has raised questions in Congress and in the Pentagon about whether these deals could result in breaches of national security. Some also worry about having suppliers in nations that are now friends but that may one day be foes.

Interesting sory. There is much more.