Sweden - Here we are blown
Richard Aschberg, Matthew Carlson, John Wahl, 3rd December 2010, 20:00 GMT
Norway and the United States lured Sweden - in the 55-billion deal on Jas
Sweden became the basis cheated by both Norway and the United States in the multi-billion dollar deal on Jas.
It shows the American diplomatic reports Aftonbladet today can reveal.
The Norwegian Deputy Defense Minister Barth Eide gave, even before the contract was completed, a clear signal that the U.S. would win the deal.
At the same time delayed the U.S. deliberately major components to Jas-plane to pull the legs of Sweden.
Norwegian Air Force were to replace its entire fleet of American fighter aircraft. A total of 48 aircraft would be replaced, a deal worth 55 billion. After harshly criticized procurement rated Norwegians Swedish JAS Gripen and bought the American F-35.
The deal has been accused by many to have been rigged. According to the critics was the specification of the purchase made to fit the American plane - and the price of the Swedish alternative deliberately distorted so that it became much more expensive than in real life. He was responsible
Aftonbladet can today reveal U.S. diplomatic statements on the affair and secret contacts with the Norwegian Deputy Defense Minister, Barth Eide. It was he who had the main responsibility for procurement.
U.S. Embassy had an early appointment Barth Eide, a key figure in the contract. They noted that Eide was pro-American and had been of benefit to the U.S. earlier: he had given good advice about how it would tackle the Norwegian government.
"In several important issues have Barth Eide been helpful, as in the case of missile defense (where he helped to prevent a Norwegian veto on NATO plan)." Report to the CIA
In a classified document from the Embassy of Eide's private interests and weaknesses. Although details of his wife is included in the report that was sent directly to the CIA and U.S. military intelligence, the DIA.
The reports of the U.S. embassies in Stockholm and Oslo gives a unique insight into the game that cost the Swedish taxpayers and Jas project billions of dollars. Over 50 billion was in the pot.
For the U.S., the deal was not just about money, but also to ensure Norway's involvement in NATO and the monitoring of the northern flank of Europe.
Early was the Norwegian public opinion strongly in favor of the Swedish JAS, and it was very negative in the Norwegian media about the U.S. plane F-35.
In a cry for help from the U.S. embassy in Oslo, 22 September 2008, we are asking Washington for help with political pressure at high level. It will then not be long until everything looks brighter.
On 23 October 2008, Barth Eide, a meeting of the American General Roger Brady. The call is described in the confidential report as "frank":
"If you think you have the best airplane, trust the process."
The same report states that Eide "private has given all indications that the F-35 will be selected."
The deal was then far from complete. According to the official version was still on an evaluation of Jas. I got advice from several directions
Other Norwegian government officials gave the U.S. advice on how they would act to win the competition. On 24 October 2008, the U.S. ambassador in Oslo, Norway, Benson Whitney, a private meeting with the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
According to Whitney's report said the Norwegian Minister:
"It's 'integrity of the process' and if we sit quietly in the boat, everything will go well. He pressed the need for political credibility in the contract, and that the process can withstand the uninformed media attacks. He concluded by saying that we should 'trust'. "
Although Defence Minister Anne-Grete Ström-Erichsen gave encouraging signals to the U.S., the report said. She should also be pointed out that only the Defence Ministry was aware of all the data on the two planes. "Act honorably"
Although the United States by this time was virtually certain to win the contract but it reportedly does not appear that the deal would MoS.
"Continue to participate in all conferences, debates and other public forums on the program offered by the JSF partnership, when and where it is requested, so we do not seem to confident. We must continue to act as an honorable and elegant competitor, "wrote the ambassador's report to Washington.
On 20 November 2008 announced by Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Ström-Erichsen decision that the U.S. Lockheed Martin had won the tender.
Just hours earlier put the Swedish Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors together with his Norwegian colleague Power-Erichsen.
She suggested nothing of the affair was finished.
On the same day had Mr Tolgfors also an article in Dagens Nyheter in which he advocated an expanded Nordic cooperation, and said that he was still hopeful a deal with the Norwegians.
But it was nothing. The sudden decision came as a cold shower for Tolgfors and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.
On the American Embassy in Oslo, where the entire staff had been working on the deal in several years, it was simultaneously heels and some surprise:
"The timing of the disclosure was surprising because it came earlier than expected, although the Norwegian government's exceptionally strong support for the F-35 was surprising," the embassy in the evaluation of the deal. Wanted to buy radar
But the game behind the aircraft deal was not just on the U.S. embassy in Oslo.
With colleagues in Stockholm, it was also full of activity.
On 25 June 2008 met Mr Tolgfors the U.S. Ambassador Michael Wood.
During the call, tried Tolgfors convince Wood that Sweden was an important partner of NATO and that a Jas-business would also benefit the U.S., because several parts of the plane is American.
Tolgfors bath while the U.S. permission to buy into the American-made radar AESA to the Swedish aircraft.
Tolgfors said that with the radar at Jas-plan would be opportunities to work with NATO to increase.
Here was the U.S. the Swedish Achilles heel and the tactics to be used to compromise the ability of Jas.
The Swedes wanted the go-ahead for the radar system in September - in time for the Norwegians' decision on which plan would be procured.
Through the Ambassador's proposal, outlined in the confidential report, could Americans now achieve substantial gravel in the Swedish machinery:
"We propose that we postpone the decision on AESA permits for Gripen until after Norway's decision in December."
Thus were the Swedes, but a complete solution. Thanked of tactics
Shortly after the announcement had Barth Eide, a private meeting with Ambassador Benson Whitney. The meeting described in reports as "very relaxed". Barth Eide should also have thanked the Embassy for their tactics to get the deal in port. He also complained of Saab's reaction after the decision.
For the U.S., Norway was the deal-just a start. Billions would also be conducted by both Denmark and Holland.
The reports from the Oslo embassy went through the successful tactic. The outwardly tread carefully as there seemed to be affected Norway's independence:
"Secretly, we were much more powerful."
Aftonbladet have searched Mr Tolgfors for comment, but Defence Minister refuses to answer questions.
Late yesterday, he announced through his press secretary Michael Ostlund that he did not want to "review rumors and Wikileaksdokument".
http://wikileaks.ch/articles/2010/Har-blir-vi-blasta.html
literal translation by google translate
