Boeing is trying to pull NASA into its web

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1108/04boeingatlas/

Boeing says it has selected the Atlas V as the carrier rocket for its
CST-100 paper vehicle. Big surprise. They aim to perform a test launch
in 3 years or so *IF* NASA funds the project. Hardly surprising that
they won't talk specifics on what it's gonna cost, but I expect it to
be in the billions. No matter what you as of a large conglemerate like
Boeing or LockMart it's gonna cost you more than a billion dollars. And
all the while they'll keep yelling 'We put a man on the Moon!' It's
also shameful that it takes more than 5 years to build such a simple
capsule when similar work was done in record time in the early '60's.
The article then continues with Boeing and ULA congratulating each
other on their fantastic choice. Puke! CST-100 is nothing more than a
paper excercise to gather interest at the lowest cost. Once NASA bites
they'll pay through their nose to get this thing flying.

With SpaceX's Dragon already having flown and ready for manned
transportation service in 3 years or less, why in God's name would NASA
even seriously contemplate CST-100? Only reason I can think of would be
FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) spread by Boeing / LockMart. NASA would
do better funding several of the COTS contenders' manned vehicles to
completion, giving it more options and possibly laying the foundations
for a whole new industry.