I guess we will all just buy Fender guitars, from now on, where they are
more honest and not smugglers.


----------------
"Swingman" wrote in message
...
To illustrate the ridiculousness and overreaching of this action by the
administration against Gibson, you have to read the affidavit filed in
support of the search warrant:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/package...sonWarrant.pdf

The seized wood is described in the affidavit as in the form of "sawn
logs" 510-530 x 75/70 x 10mm.

IOW, each of the 1250 pieces seized is roughly 20" x 3" x 13/32".

Read paragraph 14, page six of the affadavit and you will see that India
allows export of this particular wood up to 6mm thick (due to the high
complexity of involved in cutting these thin sheets to a uniform
commercial quality)

IOW, it must be cut to that thickness by Indian workers at Indian
factories, insuring Indian jobs.

IOW, the raid on Gibson's facilities, with guns drawn, disrupting the
production and jobs of workers at one of the few American companies
still "manufacturing" products is based on a difference of 5/32" of
thickness, AND TO PROTECT INDIAN WOODWORKING JOBS.

How many of you, experienced woodworkers, could look at bundles of these
pieces and tell that there is up to 4mm (5/32") difference in thickness
in the pieces?

Do you really think that Gibson should be held accountable, and be
subject to a police action, computers seized, production disrupted, jobs
lost, by buying rough stock, sight unseen, that is approximately 1/8"
thicker than it's supposed to be?

What it boils down to is that US is enforcing India's laws to protect
the woodworking jobs at the expense of American jobs.

And apparently, the Indian woodworker aren't doing their jobs very well,
at least when it comes to "uniform commercial quality".

Granted, Gibson has a lot of things going against it in the current
political climate ... it has actually publicly supported Republican
politicians in a "right to work" state. Heaven forbid.

Now, if Gibson would only move their operations to India, their would be
no problem.

That is what this is about!!