Bae Systems Plc

Ronald Kratz had every intention of carrying out his duties as a material handler for defense contractor BAE Systems in Sealy, Texas -- despite his weighing nearly 680 pounds. So when in 2009 the seatbelt on his forklift wouldn't extend long enough for him to buckle it, he asked his superiors for an extender. ...

By JONATHAN FAHEY NEW YORK (AP) -- The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are winding down, Osama bin Laden is dead, and the federal government is deeply in debt. This spells the end of what was a golden decade for the defense industry. In the decade since the Sept. 11 attacks, the annual defense budget has more ...