Since the airframe won't be built here in Alabama, why can't Northrop buy Boeing commercial aircraft and upgrade them to be tankers? That way more of the jobs stay in the US and everyone will be happy.

As the prime contractor the last supplier you want as a major sub is Boeing. You have seen the BS Boeing is spinning. Years late on delivering the 767 to Japan and Italy. As for American jobs, how many parts of the 767 do you think Boeing outsources to foreign countries. Boeing cares nothing for US jobs, they spun off all their own US suppliers they had to fend for themselves when Boeing started outsourcing to foreign companies. Why? they did not have to invest capital and expense in the smaller US companies they owned and started buying cheaper off shore. Ask their unions how much Boeing work goes to Italy, Japan and China. The 767 is an older now outdated product, Boeing has no commercial orders they want to capatilize on their tooling and stick us tax payers with antiques instead of a modern A330. NG buy old 767 frames from Boeing to keep everyone happy -NO. Northrop defines the future. It's all or nothing Northrop won't be bribed or bought in doing the wrong thing and if it's ALL get ready Mobil. Try to remember NG won the contract, and they are not giving up!

With all of the recent talk about splitting the deal I really don't see the problem locally if it still means building the same outfit at Brookley and means hiring the same amount of people. It just means that the military will get more planes delivered within a given time frame having two contractors. If Mobile can get the buildings built at Brookley and these planes will be built for the next 15 years completing the full contract (half of the 100 billion dollar deal) We will most likely have other deals in progress along side of this one being that we will be set up with suppliers, reputation and an established workforce etc.....
I say split the deal and avoid another protest and get Mobile growing unlike anything we have ever seen before ASAP.