TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Andy Pettitte pulled his cap downnike outlet factory
low, peered into the catcher and delivered each pitch with the intensity of a postseason game.
Clearly, this was no ordinary bullpen session.
Pettitte arrived at camp on Tuesday, took a physical and pulled on the familiar navy pinstripes. The lefty felt right at home with the New York Yankees.
"It's weird to say it. I feel like I never left," Pettitte said. "I don't know how to explain it."
Pettitte ended his brief retirement last Friday, signing a minor league contract that would pay him $2.5 million if he's added to the major league roster. He is three months shy of his 40th birthday, but he feels fine physically and hopes to help the Yankees win their 28th World Series championship.
Pettitte threw 50 pitches to catcher Russell Martin and was so encouraged that he joked he might be ready in three weeks, even though the target date for his return to the Bronx is May 1. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild and others want Pettitte to ease his way back after not pitching for 17 months.
"I really feel like I'm progressing. I really felt good aurora nike outlet
about it," Pettitte said. "I told Larry: 'You're going to have to make me take it slow.'"
Martin was quite impressed with Pettitte's performance.
"That's as good a bullpen as I've caught all spring," Martin said. "As far as executing pitches, that's as good as I've seen. He kept executing pitch after pitch after pitch."
Martin said what stood out was Pettitte's command and "how serious he is every pitch. It's like a game out there."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi wants to see more.
"I don't get too caught up in it," Girardi said of Pettitte's mound session. "You have to wait until guys get going. We'll have to decide how many bullpens we feel he needs before throwing BP. The big thing is getting his body in shape."
It's possible Pettitte will pitch in an exhibition game before the Yankees head north. The plan is for him to stay in extended spring training and then join New York's rotation perhaps by May.
"I am a little surprised I felt as good as I did today," Pettitte said.
Pettitte was with the Yankees in camp this spring as an instructor. He threw batting practice several times, and continued throwing when he went home. He told Yankees general manager Brian Cashman the day he showed up on the first day of spring training that he was interested in coming back, and was thinking he'd be back in uniform sooner than this.
"I thought they would sign me within a couple days," Pettitte said. "Obviously, it took a little while."
Cashman said he offered Pettitte a deal in the $10-12 million range in December. Pettitte wasn't ready to make the commitment then because he wasn't certain he could do it.
"The money they were talking about, that makes you have the confidence you can do it," Pettitte said. "Mentally, I didn't think I could do it to the capacity I wanted."
There was never a doubt that Pettitte would only come back to New York.
"Me and my wife talked about it and there was no considering going anywhere else," he said. "Obviously, I could've gotten more money if I went somewhere else. This is where my heart was, man. I had no desire to go anywhere else."
Even though he interrupted his career in New York to play for his hometown Houston Astros from 2004-06, Pettitte will always be considered a true Yankee. He's one of the "Core Four" along with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada. The quartet helped the Yankees win World Series titles in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009. In both 1998 and 2009, Pettitte won the World Series finale.
Pettitte is 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA in 16 major league seasons. He has excelled in the postseason, setting a major league record for wins by going 19-10 with a 3.83 ERA.
In 13 seasons with the Yankees, Pettitte was a three-time All-Star, earning the honor in 1996, 2001 and 2010. He was a 20-game winner in 1996 and 2003, twice going 21-8. Pettitte has 203 wins for the Yankees, trailing only Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231). He is second to Ford in strikeouts (1,823) and starts (396).
Pettitte was 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA in his last season, but was plagued by injuries. He feels he benefited from the time off.
"When I retired, those last games I pitched in the postseason, my groin and my lower back were hurt," he said. "Those are the things I would be concerned about, if thernike store coupons
e was a concern. I've had 16 months for those to heal."
Pettitte is one of five starters looking to fill three rotation spots behind CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda. He put a lot of thought into this decision and promises no regrets.
"It's a great opportunity. It's a great challenge," Pettitte said. "No matter what happens, I prayed about the decision with my family and my kids for a long time and we feel it's the right thing to do."
2012年3月21日星期三
Woods shows no signs of injury at exhibition
(Reuters) - Tiger Woods appears recovered from the mild Achillesnike outlet memphis
strain that forced him out of the WGC-Cadillac Championship after carding a level par 72 in the final round of the Tavistock Cup on Tuesday.
Woods, who withdrew from the final round of the WGC event in Doral, Florida, on March 11 with a mild Achilles strain, showed no signs of distress in this week's exhibition but was far from his top form.
Britain's Ian Poulter was the only golfer in thenike store coupon code
elite 24 player field to shoot a higher score, returning a four-over 76 on the Lake Nona layout just outside of Orlando, Florida.
Woods is scheduled to return to the PGA Tour this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as he continues his buildup to the April 5-8 Masters.
The former-world number one mixed two birdies with two bogeys for Team Albany on Tuesday, which finished last in the four-team competition with a two-day total score of 26-under.
Team Lake Nona of Ben Curtis, Ross Fisher, Retief Goosen, Peter Hanson,nike outlet store
Graeme McDowell and Gary Woodland enjoyed home course advantage claiming victory with 41-under.
The event features 24 of the top touring professionals who are members of the Albany, Isleworth, Lake Nona and Queenwood Golf Clubs.
strain that forced him out of the WGC-Cadillac Championship after carding a level par 72 in the final round of the Tavistock Cup on Tuesday.
Woods, who withdrew from the final round of the WGC event in Doral, Florida, on March 11 with a mild Achilles strain, showed no signs of distress in this week's exhibition but was far from his top form.
Britain's Ian Poulter was the only golfer in thenike store coupon code
elite 24 player field to shoot a higher score, returning a four-over 76 on the Lake Nona layout just outside of Orlando, Florida.
Woods is scheduled to return to the PGA Tour this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as he continues his buildup to the April 5-8 Masters.
The former-world number one mixed two birdies with two bogeys for Team Albany on Tuesday, which finished last in the four-team competition with a two-day total score of 26-under.
Team Lake Nona of Ben Curtis, Ross Fisher, Retief Goosen, Peter Hanson,nike outlet store
Graeme McDowell and Gary Woodland enjoyed home course advantage claiming victory with 41-under.
The event features 24 of the top touring professionals who are members of the Albany, Isleworth, Lake Nona and Queenwood Golf Clubs.
2012年3月15日星期四
CBS renews 18 prime-time shows, including 'NCIS'
NEW YORK (AP) — CBS on Wednesday announced the renewal of a staggering 18 prime-time series for next season, making the annual May announcement of its fall schedule almost moot and sending a message of stability.
Fans of television's top-rated network won't have to worry about whether old favorites such as "NCIS," ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Survivor" are coming back in the fall.
The Monday comedy lineup of "How I Met Yournikes shox
Mother," ''2 Broke Girls" and "Mike & Molly" will return intact, and CBS said it is negotiating to bring the Ashton Kutcher-led "Two and a Half Men" back. Thursday's "The Big Bang Theory" also will return, CBS said.
"This large-scale renewal is testimony to the strength, stability and success of a deep and diverse roster of top-rated programming," said Nina Tassler, CBS entertainment president.
A handful of series did not get renewals, immediately putting them on the bubble for return. These include the New York and Miami spinoffs of "CSI," the new dramas "Unforgettable" and "A Gifted Man," the sixth-season comedy "Rules of Engagement" and the new comedy "Rob."
This doesn't necessarily mean those series will be canceled. They'll likely compete with potential new series for spots in the lineup.
Wednesday's announcement sends a clear message to producers of new series being considered by CBS: Raise your game because competition for space is fierce, said Brad Adgate, an analyst for Horizon Media.
The CBS announcement also is aimed at advertisers who will be making decisions this spring about where to spend billions of dollars to hawk their wares.
"When you're the top network and have been the top network for seven or eight seasons, you can do this," Adgate said.
CBS could probably put the same lineup onhigh top nikes
next fall and do well but doesn't want to run the risk of getting stale, he said.
Besides "NCIS," CBS has already committed to bringing back its Los Angeles spinoff. Other dramas that will return are "Hawaii Five-0," ''nike outlet factory
Criminal Minds," ''Person of Interest," ''The Mentalist," ''Blue Bloods" and "The Good Wife."
"The Amazing Race" and "Undercover Boss" will join "Survivor" as CBS reality shows to return. The newsmagazines "60 Minutes" and "48 Hours Mystery" will be back.
Fans of television's top-rated network won't have to worry about whether old favorites such as "NCIS," ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Survivor" are coming back in the fall.
The Monday comedy lineup of "How I Met Yournikes shox
Mother," ''2 Broke Girls" and "Mike & Molly" will return intact, and CBS said it is negotiating to bring the Ashton Kutcher-led "Two and a Half Men" back. Thursday's "The Big Bang Theory" also will return, CBS said.
"This large-scale renewal is testimony to the strength, stability and success of a deep and diverse roster of top-rated programming," said Nina Tassler, CBS entertainment president.
A handful of series did not get renewals, immediately putting them on the bubble for return. These include the New York and Miami spinoffs of "CSI," the new dramas "Unforgettable" and "A Gifted Man," the sixth-season comedy "Rules of Engagement" and the new comedy "Rob."
This doesn't necessarily mean those series will be canceled. They'll likely compete with potential new series for spots in the lineup.
Wednesday's announcement sends a clear message to producers of new series being considered by CBS: Raise your game because competition for space is fierce, said Brad Adgate, an analyst for Horizon Media.
The CBS announcement also is aimed at advertisers who will be making decisions this spring about where to spend billions of dollars to hawk their wares.
"When you're the top network and have been the top network for seven or eight seasons, you can do this," Adgate said.
CBS could probably put the same lineup onhigh top nikes
next fall and do well but doesn't want to run the risk of getting stale, he said.
Besides "NCIS," CBS has already committed to bringing back its Los Angeles spinoff. Other dramas that will return are "Hawaii Five-0," ''nike outlet factory
Criminal Minds," ''Person of Interest," ''The Mentalist," ''Blue Bloods" and "The Good Wife."
"The Amazing Race" and "Undercover Boss" will join "Survivor" as CBS reality shows to return. The newsmagazines "60 Minutes" and "48 Hours Mystery" will be back.
Clooney uses star power to spotlight Sudan crisis
WASHINGTON (AP) — George Clooney used his Hollywood celebrity Wednesday to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the volatile border area between Sudan and South Sudan, offering a firsthand account of the suffering as thousands are forced to take refuge in caves because of daily aerial bombardments.
"What you see is a constant drip of fear,"blue nike basketball shoes
the actor and human rights activist told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Just back from an eight-day trip to the region, Clooney described a secret, six-hour trip across the border to the Nuba Mountains, with rocket attacks, death and destruction. He recalled how a 9-year-old boy had his hands blown off.
Teamed with John Prendergast, co-founder of the advocacy group the Enough Project, Clooney made a film that captured the images of crimes against humanity.
The four-minute video showed refugees in caves, the boy with bloody arms and a woman marked by her wounds. In the final image, Clooney stood above what appeared to be a dead man splayed on the ground.
"How many more bodies until the Nuba Mountains become the next Darfur?" asked the video, which was released online.
More than two decades of fighting in the region gave way last year to an agreement to create the world's newest country, South Sudan. It seceded from Sudan last July amid hopes that have deteriorated into border clashes, deadly fighting and a standoff on oil.
Clooney said civilians who have farmed the fields are unable to work for fear of bombs dropping from military planes. Sudan has refused to allow aid agencies into the region. Nancy Lindborg, an official with the U.S. Agency for International Development, told the committee that 250,000 people are on the brink of a famine with the upcoming rainy season.
"These are not the cave people of the Nuba Mountains," Clooney said in an interview with reporters before his testimony. "They're hiding in these caves because they're attacked on a daily basis. The Geneva Convention calls that war crimes."
Sudan President Omar al-Bashir is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court for killings and rapes committed in Darfur. Clooney referred to Bashir and others as war criminals.
Darfur has been in turmoil since 2003, when ethnic African rebels accusing the Arab-dominated Sudanese government of discrimination took up arms. The Khartoum government is accused of retaliating by unleashing Arab militias on civilians — a charge the government denies. The U.N. estimates 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have been displaced.
The committee chairman, Sen. John Kerry, acknowledged that Americans' attention is often diverted by other crises around the world, butnike outlet store
resolving the issues in the Sudan region is critical.
"Make no mistake: It is the leaders in Khartoum and Juba (South Sudan's capital) who must choose between a future of conflict and poverty or a future of security and prosperity. But we must not abdicate the important role the United States can play in helping to nurture that process, just as we helped midwife the birth of this new nation," Kerry said.
Clooney said he understood the competition from other major stories such as the Arab Spring and jobs, but he argued that the Sudan conflict should matter to Americans because of its affect on the price of gas.
Oil-rich South Sudan and Sudan, the keeper of the pipelines, have been at odds over oil and profits. Exports have stopped, putting pressure on oil prices worldwide. China receives about 6 percent of its oil from Sudan, and with that source shut off, it must go elsewhere to buy.
"So we actually have a financialmen s nike free run
interest in this working out," Clooney told reporters.
Clooney suggested that the Senate send a special envoy to China to seek their help with the Sudan dispute and freeze the financial assets of the Sudanese leaders to prevent them from buying weapons.
Clooney also met with Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on Tuesday and planned to meet with President Barack Obama at the White House and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday.
"I'm not a policymaker," he told reporters. "My job is to just raise the volume."
"What you see is a constant drip of fear,"blue nike basketball shoes
the actor and human rights activist told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Just back from an eight-day trip to the region, Clooney described a secret, six-hour trip across the border to the Nuba Mountains, with rocket attacks, death and destruction. He recalled how a 9-year-old boy had his hands blown off.
Teamed with John Prendergast, co-founder of the advocacy group the Enough Project, Clooney made a film that captured the images of crimes against humanity.
The four-minute video showed refugees in caves, the boy with bloody arms and a woman marked by her wounds. In the final image, Clooney stood above what appeared to be a dead man splayed on the ground.
"How many more bodies until the Nuba Mountains become the next Darfur?" asked the video, which was released online.
More than two decades of fighting in the region gave way last year to an agreement to create the world's newest country, South Sudan. It seceded from Sudan last July amid hopes that have deteriorated into border clashes, deadly fighting and a standoff on oil.
Clooney said civilians who have farmed the fields are unable to work for fear of bombs dropping from military planes. Sudan has refused to allow aid agencies into the region. Nancy Lindborg, an official with the U.S. Agency for International Development, told the committee that 250,000 people are on the brink of a famine with the upcoming rainy season.
"These are not the cave people of the Nuba Mountains," Clooney said in an interview with reporters before his testimony. "They're hiding in these caves because they're attacked on a daily basis. The Geneva Convention calls that war crimes."
Sudan President Omar al-Bashir is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court for killings and rapes committed in Darfur. Clooney referred to Bashir and others as war criminals.
Darfur has been in turmoil since 2003, when ethnic African rebels accusing the Arab-dominated Sudanese government of discrimination took up arms. The Khartoum government is accused of retaliating by unleashing Arab militias on civilians — a charge the government denies. The U.N. estimates 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have been displaced.
The committee chairman, Sen. John Kerry, acknowledged that Americans' attention is often diverted by other crises around the world, butnike outlet store
resolving the issues in the Sudan region is critical.
"Make no mistake: It is the leaders in Khartoum and Juba (South Sudan's capital) who must choose between a future of conflict and poverty or a future of security and prosperity. But we must not abdicate the important role the United States can play in helping to nurture that process, just as we helped midwife the birth of this new nation," Kerry said.
Clooney said he understood the competition from other major stories such as the Arab Spring and jobs, but he argued that the Sudan conflict should matter to Americans because of its affect on the price of gas.
Oil-rich South Sudan and Sudan, the keeper of the pipelines, have been at odds over oil and profits. Exports have stopped, putting pressure on oil prices worldwide. China receives about 6 percent of its oil from Sudan, and with that source shut off, it must go elsewhere to buy.
"So we actually have a financialmen s nike free run
interest in this working out," Clooney told reporters.
Clooney suggested that the Senate send a special envoy to China to seek their help with the Sudan dispute and freeze the financial assets of the Sudanese leaders to prevent them from buying weapons.
Clooney also met with Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on Tuesday and planned to meet with President Barack Obama at the White House and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday.
"I'm not a policymaker," he told reporters. "My job is to just raise the volume."
2012年2月13日星期一
Elite Security Services Announce Enhancement of their Home Security Systems in Canada with Introduction of Smoke Detection Equipment
The Canadian customers of home security systems can now enjoy the benefits of an excellent smoke detector as a part of their home protection package. Elite Security Services recently launched this component in Canada. They launched their service in Canada last year. The company presently offers three low cost security packages for home protection
(PRWEB) February 12, 2012
The users of home security systems packages from Elite Security Services in Canada will now have the privilege of receiving a useful smoke detection device. The device has just been launched in the country and is being offered now as a part of all the packages installed by them. Elite Security Services is one of the latest entrants in the security market, in Canada. They have expanded to almost all parts of Canada within a few months. The company is already a major force in the American home protection industry and is noted for their low cost security solutions. The customers of the company have expressed their satisfaction about the launch.
All advanced home security systems companies provide a motion detector in their package. Smoke detectors are capable of detecting the source of smoke using ionization and photoelectric mechanism. These devices are indispensable parts of a security package because they act as an alarm for fire. With the recent technological advancements in the field, smoke detectors are now even more efficient. The company owner, Mr. Paul Shakuri, introduced this equipment to Canada saying, “This is an advanced smoke detection device that can detect heat changes even if there is a source of fire within the walls. We are pleased to offer this device to all our customers in Canada”. Mr. Shakuri is a respected personality in the security industry in the United States.
The three home security systems packages from the company are equipped with all the latest features. They have specially designed packages for households that have no landline telephone connection. The company presently offers its basic package for a rental of only $35.99 per month. As a customer of the company, Elton from Toronto rates them very highly. He says, “I am happy that I opted for Elite Security while installing my security package. They gave me one of the best deals of my life”.
About the Company: Elite Security Services is a security company providing protection to homeowners in Canada and the United States. They are also an active associate of Protect Your Home.
Contact
(PRWEB) February 12, 2012
The users of home security systems packages from Elite Security Services in Canada will now have the privilege of receiving a useful smoke detection device. The device has just been launched in the country and is being offered now as a part of all the packages installed by them. Elite Security Services is one of the latest entrants in the security market, in Canada. They have expanded to almost all parts of Canada within a few months. The company is already a major force in the American home protection industry and is noted for their low cost security solutions. The customers of the company have expressed their satisfaction about the launch.
All advanced home security systems companies provide a motion detector in their package. Smoke detectors are capable of detecting the source of smoke using ionization and photoelectric mechanism. These devices are indispensable parts of a security package because they act as an alarm for fire. With the recent technological advancements in the field, smoke detectors are now even more efficient. The company owner, Mr. Paul Shakuri, introduced this equipment to Canada saying, “This is an advanced smoke detection device that can detect heat changes even if there is a source of fire within the walls. We are pleased to offer this device to all our customers in Canada”. Mr. Shakuri is a respected personality in the security industry in the United States.
The three home security systems packages from the company are equipped with all the latest features. They have specially designed packages for households that have no landline telephone connection. The company presently offers its basic package for a rental of only $35.99 per month. As a customer of the company, Elton from Toronto rates them very highly. He says, “I am happy that I opted for Elite Security while installing my security package. They gave me one of the best deals of my life”.
About the Company: Elite Security Services is a security company providing protection to homeowners in Canada and the United States. They are also an active associate of Protect Your Home.
Contact
Daniela Hantuchova wins Pattaya Open again
Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova won her second straight Pattaya Open title Sunday, defeating Russia’s Maria Kirilenko 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3.
This was Hantuchova’s fifth career title and her first since winning in Thailand a year ago.
“Even after I lost the first set, I kept fighting and never looked back,” said Hantuchova, who successfully defended a title for the first time. “This is special for me.”
Not wanting to break a winning routine, Hantuchova said she had eaten chicken fried rice and salad for the past seven days, and was looking forward to something different.
“It could be a pizza or anything,” she said. “I also kept eating the same thing in Indian Wells and I won.”
Hantuchova, seeded third, won in 3 hours, 14 minutes. Kirilenko had already spent more than 9 1/2 hours on court just to get to the final, her first on the WTA Tour in nearly 16 months.
She was a break up in the first set before eventually taking it on a tiebreaker when Hantuchova netted a backhand after 1 hour, 14 minutes.
Hantuchova won the second set after an early break before Kirilenko needed treatment on court for a right hip injury.
The Russian double-faulted to give Hantuchova the crucial break and a 5-3 lead in the deciding set. Hantuchova closed the victory with help of two forehand winners down the line.
This was Hantuchova’s fifth career title and her first since winning in Thailand a year ago.
“Even after I lost the first set, I kept fighting and never looked back,” said Hantuchova, who successfully defended a title for the first time. “This is special for me.”
Not wanting to break a winning routine, Hantuchova said she had eaten chicken fried rice and salad for the past seven days, and was looking forward to something different.
“It could be a pizza or anything,” she said. “I also kept eating the same thing in Indian Wells and I won.”
Hantuchova, seeded third, won in 3 hours, 14 minutes. Kirilenko had already spent more than 9 1/2 hours on court just to get to the final, her first on the WTA Tour in nearly 16 months.
She was a break up in the first set before eventually taking it on a tiebreaker when Hantuchova netted a backhand after 1 hour, 14 minutes.
Hantuchova won the second set after an early break before Kirilenko needed treatment on court for a right hip injury.
The Russian double-faulted to give Hantuchova the crucial break and a 5-3 lead in the deciding set. Hantuchova closed the victory with help of two forehand winners down the line.
Brazil "very likely" to choose French fighter jet: sources
Brazil is "very likely" to choose France's Rafale fighter jet to refurbish its air force, government sources say, a decision that would award one of the emerging-market world's most coveted defense contracts to a jet whose future was in doubt only two weeks ago.
President Dilma Rousseff and her top advisers believe that Dassault Aviation's bid to sell at least 36 Rafales offers the best terms among the three finalists, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The other two bidders are Boeing's F-18 and Saab's Gripen.
Rousseff has cast the deal as a watershed decision that will help mold Brazil's military and strategic alliances for the next few decades as it continues to establish itself as a leading economic power. The contract will have an initial value of about $4 billion but will likely be worth considerably more over time once maintenance and follow-on orders are included.
Rousseff previously had concerns about the Rafale because the jet had not found any buyers outside France. That raised doubts about whether Dassault would have the scale necessary to build the jets at a reasonable cost and maintain them over time.
The sources said those concerns were assuaged when India announced on January 31 that it had entered exclusive talks to buy 126 Rafales. Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim traveled to New Delhi last week to discuss the deal with Indian officials and examine documents related to Dassault's bid.
"The India deal changed everything," one of the Brazilian sources said. "With India's decision, it's now very likely the Rafale will be the winner here."
The sources said that Dassault offered the best combination of a high-quality aircraft and the sharing of proprietary technology that Amorim has said is critical to the deal. Brazil hopes to use that technology to expand its own budding defense industry, led by aircraft maker Embraer .
Dassault touts the Rafale as an agile, medium-sized aircraft with low operating costs that can be more quickly deployed than its bulkier competitors. Those attributes may appeal to Brazil, which has no significant problems with its neighbors and plans to use the aircraft mainly for defensive purposes such as patrolling its recently discovered offshore oil fields.
Boeing's offer of technology has yet to be finalized but the sources said they believe it cannot compete with Dassault's bid because the United States has historically placed tight restrictions on the sale of military technology abroad.
If confirmed, the deals would enhance France's partnerships with two of the world's biggest up-and-coming economic powers - Brazil and India. They could also provide a boost to President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has cast himself as a champion of French industry and an energetic salesman of the Rafale in particular as he faces a tough re-election fight this year.
The sources said that unexpected developments, especially a breakdown in India's talks with Dassault, could still cause Rousseff to change her mind.
They also said her decision would probably not be announced until after France's April-May election, in an attempt to keep the deal from becoming overly politicized.
MEMORIES OF U.S. TENSIONS OVER JETS SALE
Brazil's air force contract is one of several deals in developing countries that have been highly contested by European and U.S. defense companies as their home markets suffer due to budget cuts. Companies are also competing for jet contracts in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and South Korea.
Brazil's bidding process has gone through several ups and downs over the years. Rousseff's predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, said in 2009 that Brazil would choose the Rafale. However, he left office without finalizing the deal.
Rousseff was extremely close to Lula as his chief of staff, but upon becoming president in January 2011 she surprised her Cabinet ministers by asking them to re-evaluate the bids from scratch. A month later, Rousseff told visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner that Boeing's F-18 was the best jet among the three finalists, but she still wanted better terms on the technology transfers.
The F-18 is widely believed to be cheaper than the Rafale. Boeing recently confirmed that it will offer the F-18 to Brazil at the same per-unit price as during the last round of bidding in 2009, Reuters reported on Friday.
Ultimately, though, Rousseff grew frustrated by what she perceived as Boeing's inability to improve the guarantees on the transfers, the officials said. Rousseff is a moderate leftist who has built her presidency around policies she believes will help Brazilian industries in areas from oil exploration to auto production.
The officials said that Rousseff was also wary of a 2006 incident in which the United States blocked the sale of Embraer's Super Tucano military aircraft to Venezuela's leftist government. Washington had the power to veto the deal because Embraer's planes contained U.S. technology.
In a separate incident in 2009, Embraer said it was temporarily blocked from selling commercial jets to Venezuela because they contained U.S. communications systems.
The episodes raised doubts about whether Brazil would face similar restrictions in the future with the technology it received from Boeing as part of the F-18 bid. "Nobody's ever forgotten what happened with Venezuela," one official said.
Brazil's point man in the confrontation with the United States in both Embraer incidents was Amorim - he was Lula's foreign minister at the time and Rousseff appointed him as her defense minister in August.
Despite her misgivings regarding Boeing, Rousseff also did not want to choose a jet that might not even be in production a decade into the future. In December, French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet warned that Dassault would stop production of the Rafale in 2021 if it did not win any export orders.
Within days of India's announcement regarding talks for the Rafale, Amorim traveled to New Delhi to gauge the bid's terms and its likelihood of proceeding as planned.
Amorim told the Times of India on Wednesday that Indian officials "promised to give us some documents ... such as basic rules on the tender process that we could compare to ours."
Brazil is not the only country that appears to be suddenly following India's lead. French newspaper La Tribune reported on February 2 that Dassault could soon seal a sale of at least 60 Rafale fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, turning around a deal that also appeared to be a lost cause.
President Dilma Rousseff and her top advisers believe that Dassault Aviation's bid to sell at least 36 Rafales offers the best terms among the three finalists, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The other two bidders are Boeing's F-18 and Saab's Gripen.
Rousseff has cast the deal as a watershed decision that will help mold Brazil's military and strategic alliances for the next few decades as it continues to establish itself as a leading economic power. The contract will have an initial value of about $4 billion but will likely be worth considerably more over time once maintenance and follow-on orders are included.
Rousseff previously had concerns about the Rafale because the jet had not found any buyers outside France. That raised doubts about whether Dassault would have the scale necessary to build the jets at a reasonable cost and maintain them over time.
The sources said those concerns were assuaged when India announced on January 31 that it had entered exclusive talks to buy 126 Rafales. Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim traveled to New Delhi last week to discuss the deal with Indian officials and examine documents related to Dassault's bid.
"The India deal changed everything," one of the Brazilian sources said. "With India's decision, it's now very likely the Rafale will be the winner here."
The sources said that Dassault offered the best combination of a high-quality aircraft and the sharing of proprietary technology that Amorim has said is critical to the deal. Brazil hopes to use that technology to expand its own budding defense industry, led by aircraft maker Embraer .
Dassault touts the Rafale as an agile, medium-sized aircraft with low operating costs that can be more quickly deployed than its bulkier competitors. Those attributes may appeal to Brazil, which has no significant problems with its neighbors and plans to use the aircraft mainly for defensive purposes such as patrolling its recently discovered offshore oil fields.
Boeing's offer of technology has yet to be finalized but the sources said they believe it cannot compete with Dassault's bid because the United States has historically placed tight restrictions on the sale of military technology abroad.
If confirmed, the deals would enhance France's partnerships with two of the world's biggest up-and-coming economic powers - Brazil and India. They could also provide a boost to President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has cast himself as a champion of French industry and an energetic salesman of the Rafale in particular as he faces a tough re-election fight this year.
The sources said that unexpected developments, especially a breakdown in India's talks with Dassault, could still cause Rousseff to change her mind.
They also said her decision would probably not be announced until after France's April-May election, in an attempt to keep the deal from becoming overly politicized.
MEMORIES OF U.S. TENSIONS OVER JETS SALE
Brazil's air force contract is one of several deals in developing countries that have been highly contested by European and U.S. defense companies as their home markets suffer due to budget cuts. Companies are also competing for jet contracts in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and South Korea.
Brazil's bidding process has gone through several ups and downs over the years. Rousseff's predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, said in 2009 that Brazil would choose the Rafale. However, he left office without finalizing the deal.
Rousseff was extremely close to Lula as his chief of staff, but upon becoming president in January 2011 she surprised her Cabinet ministers by asking them to re-evaluate the bids from scratch. A month later, Rousseff told visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner that Boeing's F-18 was the best jet among the three finalists, but she still wanted better terms on the technology transfers.
The F-18 is widely believed to be cheaper than the Rafale. Boeing recently confirmed that it will offer the F-18 to Brazil at the same per-unit price as during the last round of bidding in 2009, Reuters reported on Friday.
Ultimately, though, Rousseff grew frustrated by what she perceived as Boeing's inability to improve the guarantees on the transfers, the officials said. Rousseff is a moderate leftist who has built her presidency around policies she believes will help Brazilian industries in areas from oil exploration to auto production.
The officials said that Rousseff was also wary of a 2006 incident in which the United States blocked the sale of Embraer's Super Tucano military aircraft to Venezuela's leftist government. Washington had the power to veto the deal because Embraer's planes contained U.S. technology.
In a separate incident in 2009, Embraer said it was temporarily blocked from selling commercial jets to Venezuela because they contained U.S. communications systems.
The episodes raised doubts about whether Brazil would face similar restrictions in the future with the technology it received from Boeing as part of the F-18 bid. "Nobody's ever forgotten what happened with Venezuela," one official said.
Brazil's point man in the confrontation with the United States in both Embraer incidents was Amorim - he was Lula's foreign minister at the time and Rousseff appointed him as her defense minister in August.
Despite her misgivings regarding Boeing, Rousseff also did not want to choose a jet that might not even be in production a decade into the future. In December, French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet warned that Dassault would stop production of the Rafale in 2021 if it did not win any export orders.
Within days of India's announcement regarding talks for the Rafale, Amorim traveled to New Delhi to gauge the bid's terms and its likelihood of proceeding as planned.
Amorim told the Times of India on Wednesday that Indian officials "promised to give us some documents ... such as basic rules on the tender process that we could compare to ours."
Brazil is not the only country that appears to be suddenly following India's lead. French newspaper La Tribune reported on February 2 that Dassault could soon seal a sale of at least 60 Rafale fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, turning around a deal that also appeared to be a lost cause.
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