The initial shock may be over about the Air Force awarding the KC-45A tanker contract to Northrop Grumman and its prime subcontractor, Airbus parent EADS, but the political gamesmanship that’s permeated the competition from the start has only ratcheted up.

http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2008/05/3459574

Which, of course, means further delay in acquisition until enough politicians can be convinced that their re-election chances hinge on the USAF getting the second-best equipment available.