When everybody was giving there opinion on the new successor for NASA administrator the one trait agreed by all was that he/she have a strong backbone. Looks like we got that wish.
Delay's comment that the 40 million for the CRV was not *earmarked* but an unanimous policy decision of the committee directing NASA to fulfill the X-38 project says to me that OKeefe is taking the bull by the horns and implicating his own decisions.

OKeefe's ordered shut down of the X-38 could be a waiting game to see how the ISS partners react and propose alternative plans to fulfill a 6 person crew on ISS. The talk of late (thanks to Raoul) regarding the Soyuz's playing the role of safety boat is one proposal, but if NASA has to foot the bill, it doesn't make sense.

There also seems to be a galactic lack of communication between OKeefe and the committee. Another sign of we are going to operate NASA my way?

SteveS