Let Congress review Boeing's belly flop

Congress should hold immediate hearings into Boeing's loss of an epic refueling-tanker contract to a foreign rival. As it stands, heads are spinning.

Did the Air Force fiddle with the rules of the technical review of the aircraft at the last minute in ways that hurt Boeing? Did Northrop/EADS indeed offer a newer — better — plane with longer life and greater capacities? Is it appearances or something more, that an elemental defense contract is in the control of foreign governments?Regional disappointment is real and it goes to the money and jobs pointed overseas. Loss of the deal can be downplayed in a neutral scenario with Boeing's 767 production shutting down in an orderly fashion. In truth, we know the velocity of even a relative handful of new Boeing jobs is enormous in the Puget Sound economy.

The initial $40 billion contract going to European aircraft-maker Airbus has the legs to go decades and eventually top $100 billion with replacement of 500 planes. Those numbers cannot be diminished. Boeing's own stunned reaction gives it away.

The legendary aerospace company has a proud history and record of production and accomplishment. Quality speaks for itself. The aged Air Force tankers to be replaced attest to that. They served and protected the nation for decades.

Pursuit of the tanker contract stretched over years, with an early, apparent deal compromised by a procurement scandal and sordid business practices. Later, Arizona Sen. John McCain used the blunt force of politics to stop the Air Force from going with the home team.

Was Boeing undone by hubris this time around? Champagne corks were flying Friday before the bad news hit. Airbus appears to have trumped Boeing at its own game of spreading the work around the globe to share the wealth and build a constituency. What succeeded with the commercial 787, was copied by Northrop/EADS for the KC-45A program.

Let Congress ask hard, credible questions, and not go all xenophobic and Freedom Fries in the inquiry.