Intel "need never hire another American again"

THE WORLD Service of the BBC broadcast an interview with Thomas Friedman, author of book The World is Flat, first thing this morning.

We made reference to this book in an article headlined Dell is responsible for world peace.

We don't know when this programme on the BBC was recorded, but Friedman said that he talked to the CEO of Intel "last week" who told him that as there was such a great big pool of talent outside the US and as aliens account for 75 per cent of Chipzilla's business, "he need never hire another American again".

The time when this programme was recorded makes a difference, because as the world+dog knows, Paul Otellini took over as CEO from Doctor Craig Barrett pretty recently.

We've contacted Intel to find when, and to which CEO, Mr Friendman talked. We think we should be told, particularly as the INQ is apparently referred to in this book as a "Silicon Valley newsletter".

Harrow is the home of Kodak, one of the biggest employers in the neighbourhood, but the only chip companies we know of round here sell either Fish and Chips or chipboard. µ

* UPDATE Our readers come to the rescue again. The article was in the New York Times on the 6th of May, here, and the CEO then was Dr Craig Barrett.