WikiLeaks: U.S. Diplomats Acted As Salespeople For Boeing Over Airbus

New York Times:

This is the high-stakes, international trading bazaar for large commercial jets, where tens of billions of dollars are on the line, along with hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs. At its heart, it is a global wrestling match fought every day by executives at two giant companies, Boeing and Airbus, in which each controls about half of the global market for such planes.

To a greater degree than previously known, diplomats are a big part of the sales force, according to hundreds of cables released by WikiLeaks, which describe politicking and cajoling at the highest levels.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[AintGonnaHappen]

01:58 AM on 01/04/2011

MUST SEE!!!!!

US Tax $ Funds Pedophilia - WikiLeaks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6VjmRgywU4

[ivan kovac]

09:29 PM on 01/03/2011

This just shows that US diplomats are versatile.

[schnauzergirl]

01:51 PM on 01/03/2011

Right, like the French diplomats don't plug for Airbus.

[xtiangodloki]

01:41 PM on 01/03/2011

There is nothing wrong with diplomats working to extend the US aviation industry, but since there are only so many diplomats around it does make you wonder what do you need to do in order to get help from these diplomats if you say, you own your own manufacturing business.

What is unfair is the fact that because boeing is able to pay off the diplomats they can get additional boosts in revenue whereas other companies cannot.

[Michael GE]

07:59 PM on 01/03/2011

Aren't usually in the US (just like here in Germany) the consulates responsible to help with the day-to-day support/ provide a point of contact between businesses and the two nations involved?

On a higher level, the various branches of government, especially Foreign, Economy and Development run offices and - usually open/ transperent - processes by which both the ruling and opposition parties, organisations representing industrial sectors and labor unions pick companies which are invited to explain their business interest in a region to the minister and/or his top aides and then accompany him on his visit there. They usually have to pay the expenses (flight, hotel), no more, no less.
It's pretty much the same process by which journalists are picked to travel along.

[CigarGod]

01:21 PM on 01/03/2011

Hasn't the economic section of every embassy always dwarfed any other section?

[BlueOnBlue]

01:15 PM on 01/03/2011

This is a news story. Why is the moderation at red alert level?

[pvbeachbum]

12:01 PM on 01/03/2011

so what!!!! i'm sure the sale of Boeing jets produced thousands of jobs for our U.S. citizens here in the United States. Other countries use all of their power and dollar$$ to steer business into their homelands. JOBS...JOBS...JOBS...

[mashtoe]

12:11 PM on 01/03/2011

If the government creates the sales using our tax dollars then we are entitled to a bonus! And the executives and sales people DO NOT deserve a bonus.

But obviously that is not what is happening.

And do we have a contract with Boeing stating that they agree that they owe America anything? No. So your argument is just fantasy.

[doodlebug2]

01:00 PM on 01/03/2011

socialism, right?
Govt helping business.

[guveqzero]

01:10 PM on 01/03/2011

That's what the Nazis called it. Other people called it fascism. The problem is that our sales people are not as good as their sales people. That's why big business now hires foreign nationals at the top these days.

[Louis Danton]

11:57 AM on 01/03/2011

For those who find it normal, well, yes, I have to concede it is their task to promote the US industry, but when you know that they are also imposing free market ideology on other countries, including most poor countries, well, you can also wonder where is their legitimacy. They have the choice: either they promote free market around the world through the UN, the IMF and other huge organizations which are as non-governmental as the FBI, and then, they abide by their principles, or they just admit free market isn't a good thing and they just let the world do the same, but I'm not sure this would be good for your employment rate.

[harmlesstree]

11:27 AM on 01/03/2011

Ah yes, the wonders of the free market capitalism! LOL!

[Texanbybirth]

11:22 AM on 01/03/2011

So it is now unethical for US diplomats to promote US companies??????????????

[one1byke]

11:31 AM on 01/03/2011

Is this some lame-brained attempt at asking a valid question?
What's your answer.......?

besides "No."

[cyoohoos]

11:34 AM on 01/03/2011

If you believe in free markets, then why should the American taxpayer foot the bill for marketing services for a private company? That would look and smell like ... socialism. And some would even call it corporate welfare.

If Boeing gets welfare, does that make Boeing a "baby mama"?

[WOODSTOCKER51]

11:43 AM on 01/03/2011

KEYWORDS: AMERICAN TAXPAYER

.FUNNY HOW THOSE SAME WHO SPEW ABOUT FREE MARKET CAPITALISM.NEVER HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH ROBBING THE AVERAGE GUY OF HIS/HER PAYCHECK.FOR THEIR OWN GOOD!

[Progressive not Dem]

11:15 AM on 01/03/2011

You're probably familiar with the Boeing-747 aircraft, but are you also familiar with the Boeing-52 aircraft? Or perhaps you know it better as the B-52 bomber?

[MajorKong]

01:18 PM on 01/03/2011

Since I've logged 900 hours as Pilot in Command of that particular aircraft, what would you like to know about it?

[schnauzergirl]

01:47 PM on 01/03/2011

I wonder if he knows that the "B" in B-52 is not a referrence to it being made by Boeing.

[Philbert De Zwart]

10:50 AM on 01/03/2011

In principle I think this shouldn't be a job of political diplomats, but in reality I'm pretty sure that diplomats of France, the UK and the EU do the same for Airbus. So I'm not that worried about this behavior.

[dennissinned]

10:41 AM on 01/03/2011

Businesses always turn to the US government for help when trying to do business in foreign countries. But when it comes to paying their fair share of taxes, it's like they never even knew the government existed. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

[WOODSTOCKER51]

11:44 AM on 01/03/2011

Businesses always turn to the US government for help "

.YOU MEAN THE GOVERNEMENT THEY HATE SO MUCH?.THAT GOVERNMENT?

[JuanCarlosysofia]

03:29 PM on 01/03/2011

America has been sold.only the cleanup remains.

[IndependentGadfly]

10:39 AM on 01/03/2011

We don't need Wikileaks for this one. It's their job to promote America - that includes its industry. I believe you can find as much on the the State Department's web site and open reports. State governments also do this as well when Governors and other officials travel abroad to promote industry within their states. I do believe HuffPost or Wikileaks is trying to stir controversy where there is none. But the folks who comment here are just like Pavlov's Dogs. Mention the MIC, Palin, Bush, etc and they bark loudly ....

[whitemerlot]

10:29 AM on 01/03/2011

What? American diplomats are trying to promote American economic interests, and possibly bring more jobs and investment to this country? That's more shocking than anything.

[WOODSTOCKER51]

11:46 AM on 01/03/2011

HARDLY..SEEING WHAT CHEAPER LABOR IS AVAILABLE OVERSEAS......ITS EASIER TO HAVE A FOREIGN COMPANY FILL THEIR OFF SHORE BANK ACCOUNTS WHERE THE GOV CANT TRACK THEIR "SIDE INCOMES"..