"[Air Force officials] have told us in no uncertain terms that
they're really struggling to meet their budget.... If we don't
receive a commitment by the end of the year, our supplier base will
start knocking off."
Source: Boeing C-17 Program Manager David M.
Bowman telling the Los Angeles Times that if the Air
Force refuses to extend the C-17 manufacturing contract,
Boeing will have to start phasing out production by 2008.