Not sure if this is just my perception, but is this country starting to develop third world corruption problems!

Dean, Kenny and Andrew are correct -- there is another side -- the truth -- which was repeatedly told to these reporters which they ignored INCLUDING the fact that this company intended to get this to the USAF FOR FREE. ABC ignored that. USAF lawyers and contracting forced this through detailed competitive bidding and knew everything about this including Hornburg's proper involvement during the one year cool down period. If a problem existed during the contracting process they would have never let it go through the process. Hornburg violated nothing -- why put a 36 year career on the line for this. Ask ABC about it. See if they post it.

What you people don't understand is that once we've screened, trained, educated and battle-hardended men like like, they deserve anything they can get. I know the Liberals don't want to admit it, but there are classes of people, and these great men are of a higher class, a better breed. Give them what they want, for they keep you safe and sound. Do what they say, for they keep you isolated from the evils of the World. Smoke your cigarettes and eat your McDonald's in ignorance of what is really going on in the World. Stay uneducated and leave them alone to protect you.

Yes! And breathe out your CO2, because it's good. It's life! It's not a pollutant!Just like the oil companies say it is. (In response to Gore's Global Warning flick.)

BTW how come I don't link to the email to the AF General, like it says at the bottom of the story?

If I had a project, I would certainly want the most qualified person leading it. Also, there's more to choosing a contractor than simply the cost.

I served under John Humper when he was a one-star general at Nellis AFB, NV. I've never met a man of higher integrity and professionalism (considering some of the yahoos I saw with stars on their shoulder during my twenty.)Amazing how quickly people are tried in the courts of public opinion without evidence yet presented. If people under investigation by the FBI were an automatic decision of guilt, there wuld be very few people left in government, Hollywood, journalism, and many other things, from the incompetent and overzealous Clouseau's that we employ.

As always the truth is not coming out due to people attempting to sensationalize the story -- (maybe for profit ?) On the other hand Wilksey is about as off base as one can be. If he truely believes what he says - why doesn't he just advocate annointing these guys KING? It would tie in nicely to the neapotism amoung the general officer ranks that has existed for decades. I have heard his opinon expressed before, and it's sad.

This is additional evidence of the medias' constant drum beat of anti military and anti US propaganda. The process in the DOD does not allow for individual intervention by any Senior officer. No general Officer I ever knew would or could influence a contract in this manner.
Another attempt to undermine the security of this country by the hate America group.

Let the evidence arrive before the story is contrived.

These good old boys are just following the examples set by his superiors, namely Cheney who refused to disclose who attended his little gathering about the energy business.....even though he lawfully was required to do so. Must have been pretty bad. SO THE MELODY LINGERS ON AND IT WON'T STOP UNTIL THIS ADMINISTRATION IS OUT OF OFFICE. I guess if you flew jets your are better than everyone else. Que sera, sera.

I'm not surprised that this happens. Congress in 1972 passed laws to curb the Holloywood on the Potomic. Since then DOD has lossened the strings and oversight of audio-visual services. The DOD regulations state that all DOD components must use the DOD multimedia organization for purchase of all productions. Included is an engineering organization that designs and purchase these type of systems. I know of other DOD organizations that are wasting taxpayer dollars by failing to follow their regulations.In fact, DOD has lost several multimedia personnel because they wanted to follow the rules and regulations. This is just the tip of the iceberg. ABC should enlarge this invetigation.

And we are shocked because?? Give me a break, this kinda thing as been going on since the Civil War. Generals retire and land great jobs with companies who sell directly to the Government. If we are to investigate, investigate every officer who is retired from any branch of the US Armed Forces.

Fact: It happens

Fact: It will continue to happen

Question: How many Small businesses have ex-officers on staff.

You know, I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this one-sided, incorrect and slanderous reporting by the media. I have know Generals Mosely and Hornburg for over 30 years and have flown with both. You get to know the nature of a man when you depend on each other and I can tell you that they are the very essence of integrity. I personally know that Gen Hornburg was not directly involved in dealing with the AF during his first year of retirement; we played golf too often that year for him to have much time for anything else. ABC has greatly wronged a great American. Shame on you.

Brian Ross do you plan on apologizing for SLANDER when this is all said and done?

Probably not..why doesn't that surprise me?

Life is filled with good ol' boy networks and ring knocker networks, military and public sector alike. It's the same at ABC news, I'll bet.

Is this the same Gen Moseley the presented Senator McCain doctered USAF data during the refueling air tanker hearings? HMMM

Maybe ABC should step back and learn from CBS (See? BS) and Dan Rather. If they don't check their facts, don't report impartially, and continue to maintain the appearance of a hidden agenda, they too may be looking for another news anchor...and an audience that will trust them. Of course they can always hire some morning talk show info-babe to try to bolster their sagging ratings...

It seems that a lot of people who know nothing about government contracts has a lot to say about how they're selected. It's hard to imagine that Gen Moseley or Gen Jumper had anything to do with the selection of the recipient of Thunderbirds contract. It would have been influenced more by the fact that Gen Hornburg worked for the company. The contracting officer (who has more likely never spoken with either Moseley, Jumper, or Hornburg) is bound by law to be impartial on which company receives the contract. Then their head of contracting reviews the choice and so on. The only reason the FBI is included in the investigation is because of the level of the individuals being accused. The Air Force and the government takes accusations such as these very seriously. Normally, it would have been investigated by Office of Special Investigations or the Inspector General of the Air Force. Likely, the contract will not be reawarded until the investigation is completed.

Wow, and these are the same people who kick people out for stealing. Gen. Hornburg did not wait the six months to deal with the govt....Gen. Moseley and Gen. Jumper helped pushed the deal through. A contract is presented with certain criteria you must meet, and the lowest bidder is chosen. How can a bid twice as much be overlooked? Corruption.

I am in no way saying what happened in this instance. I think the polictical slander held forth by most major media oulets is crazy. OKay off the soap box. Sorry about that. Capt Saavy I just wanted to clarify one little thing. (As it is my actual job) If both comanies in the bid are identical then absolutley, the lowest bidder would be taken. However, in this instance if you go through all the information and see what was offered there is a glaring difference between the two bids and the quality of work that can be offered. This being the case, the lowest bid was not the best and higher one was in fact the best fit. I wonder if you are active duty or prior service and understand exactly how these things are done. It is not as cut and dry as this biased news reporter claims. God Bless America and I will continue to fight for all of your rights to badmouth us at every turn.