Shock! PRChina Counterfeiting Parts!

While Levin has a political interest in playing this up, it's still a serious matter.

...Committee Chairman Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat, and Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, told reporters that a panel investigation revealed that U.S. defense contractors and government agencies traced the sources of most fake defense parts to Shenzhen, in Guangdong province near Hong Kong.

...A report by the Government Accountability Office published in March 2010 stated that the global supplier network used by the Pentagon provides 4 million parts worth $94 billion.

The parts include fasteners used on aircraft, missile guidance electronics, materials used in body armor and engine mounts.

“Counterfeit parts have the potential to cause a serious disruption to DoD supply chains, delay ongoing missions, and even affect the integrity of weapon systems,” the report said.

Ya think??

...the problem is not limited to weapons systems but includes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Energy Department, along with private-sector producers of software, commercial aviation, automotive parts and consumer electronics and “can threaten the safety of consumers.

Yah, well, an F-18 falling on your house might 'threaten your safety.'

I'll re-state what should be obvious: manufacturing will be returning to the US, Bruce Murphy notwithstanding.