I can complain because it prevented (or significantly delayed) much better services through some arm twisting and corruption paid for by American tax payers out of the military budget.
Where is the corruption? Galileo (Euro planned system) was going to use the same frequency as GPS. So, during conflict areas the US could not jam Galileo without also affecting GPS. So the US military probably made plans on destroying satellites if it was determined that the enemy was using Galileo.
The Euro group decided instead to use another frequency than the GPS frequency. Now....
"Galileo will start offering first services from 2015.[11] Full completion of the 30-satellite Galileo system (24 operational and 6 active spares) is expected by 2020."
Yes, if you want to use a new network operator you would need to purchase new hardware for it. That happens all the time everywhere. I don't see the big problem.
All of those links do not point to any corruption. Budget overruns that are usual with large govt. contracts. And other links with hard negotiations with US officials over the already resolved issue with Galileo wanting to use the same frequency. They have already moved on to use another frequency.
> All of those links do not point to any corruption.
What, you think the CEO of a company benefiting from a project would go badmouth it to the project's enemies without any incentive? The guy was sacked the minute that embassy cable came out: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-12212525
Why do you think that the disapproval of the US Deputy Secretary of Defense is enough to almost kill a EU project? Those sons of bitches had our sons of bitches by their short and curlies. And it's not for any military alliance reason, because the US doesn't have allies - only enemies it kind of tolerates.
Read those links, they paint a pretty clear picture.
badmouth? Seems like he was saying what he truly felt without being biased because his company benefits. Actually being truthful against his own company's interests. I read all the links.
> quoted the OHB-System chief as saying, "I think Galileo is a stupid idea that primarily serves French interests", and, in particular, French military interests. Berry Smutny denied making the comments attributed to him in the US cable. Mr Smutny was further reported to say that Galileo was "doomed for failure" or would "have to undergo drastic scalebacks for survival".
Saying the government project won't be on budget and not efficient. Over budget and needing scale backs to be affordable is par for course for most government contracts. These links are benign nothing unusual, nothing special.
