We have a well-established business and operations, a fully
constructed network and a proven management team with a record of
significant accomplishments. We have successfully managed Qwest's
businesses and consistently exceeded analysts' expectations. 
Additionally, our management team has experience in successfully
integrating large acquisitions.... Put simply, our stock is a better 
currency because it is backed by better assets, real operations 
and a strong, experienced management team.
...
...we believe that the combination will result in significant 
operating synergies, aggregating approximately $9.3 billion
to $9.75 billion through the year 2005 from the combination of 
U S WEST and Qwest and $14 billion through the year 2005 from a
combination of U S WEST, Frontier and Qwest. These synergies are 
much greater than the vague and unexplained synergies that Global
Crossing claims will result from its offer. 

In a letter to the governors, CWA President Morton Bahr 
pointed out that the Qwest bid for US West proposes to squeeze 
more than $7 billion from the deal through "cuts in network
operations and maintenance, sales and marketing, billing, 
customer service, back office support and in procurement 
efficiencies" according to Qwest's 8-K filing with the SEC. 
Another $4 billion in projected "synergies" would come from 
reduced investment in network and other infrastructure.
...
Qwest's strategy, which CWA has characterized as "a throwback 
to the days of corporate raiding," would lead to further
deterioration of the US West network, Bahr stated. He urged the 
governors "to join in our public call that any entity hoping to 
acquire or merge with US West must have a strategy based on 
investment and growth, not on cutbacks, must be accountable 
for providing top quality service, and must demonstrate that 
the needs of consumers carry as much weight in business 
deliberations as those of shareholders."