U.S. Air Force yanks tanker paper under McCain threat

Source URL: http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2005-09-01T025255Z_01_MOL110293_RTRIDST_0_POLITICS-ARMS-TANKER-DC.XML
Posted at: http://www.air-attack/com/news/news_article/617

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Under pressure from Sen. John McCain, the U.S. Air Force on Wednesday withdrew a request for information from companies interested in a multibillion-dollar competition to replace KC-135 aerial refueling tankers.

The Air Force had quietly issued the "request for information" last Friday, surprising lawmakers and even some senior defense officials, since it appeared to prejudge the outcome of a comprehensive review of alternatives for modernizing the tanker fleet, which is still being finalized.

The Air Force had defended the decision for several days before changing its mind and withdrawing the document late on Wednesday, after McCain, an Arizona Republican and powerful member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a terse letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday.

McCain told Rumsfeld the Air Force action flew in the face of efforts to determine the best strategy for modernizing the fleet of aging KC-135 tankers used to refuel fighter jets and other aircraft in mid-flight, said one Senate aide familiar with the letter.

McCain said he would do all he could to see the document revoked if the service failed to do so, the aide said.

"It was a bit premature," said Air Force Col. Chris Geisel as he announced the decision to withdraw the document.

He said the Air Force rescinded the request since it might need to issue another one after completion of a two-month review of a long-awaited Rand Corp. analysis on tankers.

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