CHECK THE PRICE TAG - President Clinton's much-heralded increase in defense
spending carries a heavy price tag, warn defense insiders. There will be no
additional money for defense, they note, unless Social Security is fixed. Widely
predicted for the remainder of the year: a particularly messy budget fight.
DEPLOY OR DELAY? - The Republican majority on Capitol Hill wants legislation
that will mandate the deployment of a national missile defense system. The White
House wants to postpone that decision until June 2000. One of the sponsors of
the legislation, Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), says there's suspicion among lawmakers
that the administration is purposely delaying the call to deploy the system.
The reason for the delay, he told the Defense Writers Group in Washington, D.C.,
is "to allow [Vice President] Gore to take the lead and show he is strong
on defense in the middle of the [presidential] campaign cycle."
BAD-MOUTHING CONGRESS - Weldon also blamed the Clinton administration for bad-mouthing
Congress in front of industry groups about recent export control legislation
curtailing the sale of high technology items to China and other countries. The
problem with export control, Weldon said, is caused by the administration's
"lack of sincerity and consistency in setting standards as to what is acceptable
and not acceptable in what to sell."
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE RUSSIAN KIND - Members of the House Armed Services
Committee are angry that, a decade after the end of the Cold War, Russian merchant
ships are still being used for espionage and smuggling in American ports and
waters. Especially concerned about repeated close encounters between Russian
and U.S. Navy vessels in the sensitive Juan de Fuca strait-the route to the
submarine base at Bangor, Washington-lawmakers are pressing the Clinton administration
to close the strait to Russian shipping.
MILITARY TRAINING - A new study now under way by the Defense Science Board
will focus on military training and education. A final report is expected by
the end of the year. According to a DSB panel member, the study participants
will probe how the Pentagon funds training and will recommend whether changes
should be made.
NEW CHALLENGES FOR CRUSADER - Look for the Army's Crusader armored gun system,
now under development, to encounter new challenges during this year's budget
fight. The Crusader system is funded at nearly $400 million during the next
two years-making it an inviting target for those who would like to divert more
money to other programs, said an Army official involved in the budget process.
LOOK OUT, SCOUT - The program to develop a next-generation scout vehicle, a
joint effort between the United States and Britain, continues to enjoy widespread
support. Proponents note that such a vehicle would deliver much needed battlefield
mobility and information-gathering capability. But the new scout has its critics.
"It's designed to see, not to kill," notes one military official.
"The Army needs killers."
RECRUITERS' BLUES - Despite Herculean efforts to meet recruiting goals, prospects
are that the armed services will continue to experience difficulties in filling
their ranks. The Army is pulling noncommissioned officers from line units to
beef up its force of recruiters. "We're robbing the field to recruit,"
said one officer. Still, in the first quarter of 1999, the Army was 2,500 recruits
short.
CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK - International strategists concerned about the ability
of Jordan's new King Abdullah II to govern his grieving homeland after the death
of his father, Hussein, are being reassured by those who know him. They point
out that the new ruler, at age 37, is 20 years older-and therefore more experienced-than
his father was when he ascended to the throne. The young king is named for his
great-grandfather, Abdullah I, who led the successful Arab revolt against the
Ottoman Empire during World War I.
DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY - Will the proposed merger between Marconi Systems Technology
and British Aerospace make it more difficult for American firms to land contracts
with the British Ministry of Defense (MOD)? U.S. companies should not be greatly
concerned, says a senior official at the British embassy in Washington, D.C.
He added: "The MOD is based on competition, and it will remain that way."
Marconi spokesman Bob Hasting, however, predicted "U.S. companies will
lose business."
LEAVING? NOT ME - The Capitol is buzzing about two supposed departures, but
the principals say they're not going anywhere. Sen. Connie Mack, R-Fla., is
said to be leaving office to join the Bush presidential campaign, and Eleanor
Spector, director of procurement for the Pentagon, is rumored to be venturing
into the private sector. But spokesmen for the two said that the rumors were
not true-"not at all, not in any way, " said Spector's spokesman.