Well, I guess US tax money is ending up somewhere in the middle-east right now......
But, without stepping on any toes, isn't this a bit the anglo-way ? If it ain't broke, don't fix it ?
I think a steam pipe would need to be replaced after some time....let's say 30 years ? Seems this was a bit overdue......
I hope they replace parts in nucleair power stations more often over there

I remember seeing a program on (I think) Discovery about La Guardia airport. The program was made because air traffic controllers there had complained for years and years about there antique systems they had to work with, but the FAA didn't listen, so they turned to the media to show the people what they were giving their air safety to.
I think this was in 1999, and all the equipment looked like it was from the 60's. One controller mentioned that the one positive thing was that the systems were so old, they would easily survive the millennium-bug......
But that's also the downside of not wanting to pay any taxes. I am the first to admit that we here in Europe are HEAVILY over-taxed, but the other side is that we do seem to maintain a better infrastructure from all that tax money....