big companies got these contracts in part by sending legions of lobbyists to capitol hill. they reminded lawmakers that if they can't build weapons for egypt, all those small town suppliers from lima, ohio to oxford, michigan will get buried. >> joe with company x has made this particular piece of a tank for 20 years and that's what he does. he's very good at it. but if i don't give them an order for six month, i'm not sure what's going to happen to old joe and his workforce. >> reporter: jim colby used to control the purse strings on egypt. he heard that pitch year after year. and it worked. >> the contractors have a vested interest in keeping the process going forward. >> reporter: coal if i salby sa the aid -- >> will send up costing the taxpayers a lot of money and getting nothing in return.