In what is truly good news for US manufacturing (at least here in the Puget Sound), the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) announced today that it will not appeal Boeing's $35 billion aerial refueling tanker contract. The contract has been frequently touted as supporting 11,000 jobs here in Washington State.

In an effort to produce a colorless, run-on "sound bite" unlikely to be picked up by the media, Gov. Chris Gregoire issued a statement saying that the decision by Airbus's corporate parent "is more proof that Boeing submitted the best proposal to the U.S. Air Force, and provides the public with more assurance that Boeing will build the most cost-effective and safest refueling tanker that best serves our military and our taxpayers."

But for his part, EADS North America Chairman Ralph Crosby Jr. publicly wondered if Boeing's bid might have been too cost-effective...

[Crosby] suggested it might be hard for Boeing to deliver tankers on the Air Force’s timetable and make a profit on the contract.

“We believe there’s no basis for protest,” he said. “This outcome was ordained by a very, very, very aggressive price by our competition.”

I guess we'll see. But for the moment, this is great news for the thousands of local workers and their families who benefit from these good union jobs.