STATE OF ALABAMA

Office of the Governor


BOB RILEY
Governor
 

Press Office
 

September 10, 2008

Governor Riley Reacts to Pentagon Decision to Delay Air Force Tanker Replacement

MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley made the following comments about the Pentagon announcement it will delay a decision on replacing its aging fleet of Air Force refueling tankers:

“I strongly disagree with this decision and find it absolutely bewildering. The Air Force has been trying for six years now to replace its aging fleet of tankers. Yet another delay does nothing except put our warfighters at greater risk. For that reason alone, I can’t understand why anyone would make this decision.

“At some point, we have to say we are going to put our warfighters first - not the suppliers, not politics.

“I still agree with the statement Secretary Gates made at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base on April 21 when he said: ‘All I can say is that I think it would be a real shame if the tanker were to get delayed yet again. We’re long past due in terms of getting on with this program.’”