DD: Buy America Plan Could Have Negative Impacts On Warfighters

It is strange, but in this globalized world we no longer have the ability to manufacture many items used in the defense of our nation. We are totally dependent on foreign governments for own defense. I suspect this is bad. It seems to be working OK right now, but will that continue? Probably, as long as future conflicts stay on the order of insurgency supression or isolated incidents. A full blown conventional war over a period of years would be unsupportable in our current global supplier environment. The supply chain would become a total wreckage.

Buy America Plan Could Have Negative Impacts On Warfighters
Defense Daily International 07/22/05
author: Geoff Fein

On the surface, the 'Buy America' concept may have its appeal, but placing restrictions on Department of Defense foreign procurement to protect and bolster U.S. companies could have a far-reaching impact on U.S. relations with its allies and on getting the best capabilities quickly to deployed soldiers, according to a senior Pentagon official.
...
The House passed amendments in May to both the Defense and Homeland Security authorization bills that would make it harder for those departments to waive 'Buy America' rules. They'd also specifically state for the first time that "50 percent" of all components used in defense and homeland security products must be manufactured in the United States (Defense Daily, July 7).

Under the new law, the Defense Department would lose its authority to grant waivers to 'Buy America' laws from 21 allied nations. Instead, the amendment would require Congress approve any waivers (Defense Daily, July 7).