Helicopter Contract

Re “The Fading of ‘Buy American,’ ” editorial, Feb. 9: I totally disagree that awarding the contract to manufacture helicopters for the president has anything to do with a message to defense contractors. What it has to do with is a paycheck for Britain and Italy for supporting Bush’s personal vendetta with “boots on the ground” troops against Iraq and payback to a blue state, Connecticut. And is anyone naive enough to believe that it’s only a $1.7-billion contract? That’s openers!

Lloyd Porter

Yorba Linda