[AaronFriel]

This was the same rationale AMD had when parting ways with their Global Foundries business, and I'd argue just as much a move out of desperation. What's different are the politics.

United States domestic national security concerns make it much more financially prudent for Intel to pursue the same split. AMD took a gamble, Intel is likely to have more of a "sure thing", they have the capital backing them to make a competitive foundry business, if not the federal government will make that capital happen.