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Article: The high cost of the Airbus move.(News)
- Article from:
- Sunday Tribune (South Africa)
- Article date:
- November 8, 2009
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The decision to pull out of the Airbus A400M project has been hailed, but what now? There seems to have been very little - if any - thought given to the impact of this decision on South Africa's capability to meet its regional responsibilities. Nor to the likely cost. We may yet find that "saving" R30 billion by cancelling the contract is going to cost rather more than that when the dust has settled.
The implications and costs will be strategic, economic and political.
The key strategic issue is if South Africa accepts its regional security responsibilities, it will mean expanded involvement in peacekeeping, crisis response, stabilisation and relief ...