Galileo - German CEO Calls It A ''Stupid Idea'

[Darren]

A leaked WikiLeaks cable quotes the head of German firm HB Technology calling the EU Galileo project as "a stupid idea".

The leaked diplomatic cable was published by Norwegian newspaper 'Aftenposten'. In the cable, Berry Smutny, OHB CEO is alleged to have told US diplomats that he thought the project was 'a waste of EU tax payers money championed by French interests.'. He is further quoted in the cable saying "I think Galileo is a stupid idea that primarily serves French interests".

The comments relate to US manipulation of GPS signals during the Kosovo conflict. This deeply concerned France who wanted an EU controlled GPS network to ensure their missile guidance systems were not reliant on the US DoD operated Navstar service.

OHB Technology leads the consortium that won the contract to build and test 14 satellites for the Galileo navigation network, a contract worth a staggering 566 million euros.

The alleged comments were made in 2009 ahead of the news that OHB had won the contract in January 2010. OHB were described as the underdog during the selection process with Astrium Satellites widely tipped to be the winners.

OHB have issued a written statement denying that Mr Smutny made the statements described in the US diplomatic cable.

[edited by MikeB to correct typos]
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Darren Griffin

[BigPerk]

I guess the US still doesn't like the idea of any other country not being dependent on them - gets in the way of running the world the way it ought to be run I suppose. That's presumably why, when I buy a US electronic product, I have to promise not to pass it on to countries they don't approve of.

Mind you, if France does think that an EU satellite system would be safe from interference in times of US diplomatic/military stress, they could be accused of being a little naive. Surely they don't think they have a Special Relationship do they ?
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David
(Navigon 70 Live, Nuvi 360)

[Darren]

Whilst I am generally in awe of the gross waste and fraud that is ever present in EU projects, I am in favour of Galileo.

It's not just that, to be wholly reliant on a US controlled, DoD operated system is foolhardy. There are real world improvements that can be gained from a wholly new, modern system that is not encumbered by the legacy constraints that Navstar is lumbered with.

Yes it is expensive, but not that expensive when you realise that the entire cost of Galileo is a fraction of the costs wasted by the EU on farcical projects such as investments targeted at Austrian hill farmers to help them feel more connected to their lands or to build a new port in the Canaries, a port that has never seen commercial use because of the strong currents there!

When realised, Galileo will bring about a navigation service more accurate than Navstar and a great many benefits. The US don't like that because they want us all to rely on their network.
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Darren Griffin

[BigPerk]

And there was talk IIRC that part of the Galileo funding was possibly to be coming from a surplus ( ) in the EU's agriculture (CAP) budget. If this is so then ideally I think I'd rather the UK got some of 'our' money back. But as that just won't happen, it would be FAR better at least to have it spent on Galileo than propping up more of those obsolete 'ways of life' practices, and the surplus lakes & mountains subsidies.
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David
(Navigon 70 Live, Nuvi 360)

[MikeB]

[MaFt]

[Guivre46]

[Darren]

How does revoking his appointment whilst as the same time denying the comments disprove them??

[M8TJT]

[MikeB]

[M8TJT]

[Guivre46]

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