Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 13, 1990 TAG: 9006130136
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"We would end up doing great violence to our most important military asset - our men and women," Cheney said in painting a dire picture of the armed forces if Congress significantly cuts defense spending.
White House officials and members of Congress are negotiating an overall budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 that would determine the amount of money for defense.
Cheney promised negotiators last week that he would submit by Thursday armed forces personnel projections for the next five years if defense spending is cut by 25 percent.
The Pentagon chief provided a hint of the impact on Tuesday in testimony before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense.
Cheney said a 25 percent cut would result in a reduction of five to six Army divisions and five to six wings from the Air Force. If Congress adopts the budget totals passed by the House on May 1, Cheney said he would be forced to lay off 103,000 personnel in addition to the 38,000 in the defense plan.
The House approved a $1.2 trillion budget that earmarks $295.5 billion for defense - $8.3 billion less than President Bush has proposed.
The Senate Budget Committee has approved an overall budget that cuts Bush's $303.3 billion military spending plan by $9.4 billion.
The armed forces have 2.1 million people.
During his appearance, Cheney was forced to defend his plan to buy 75 B-2 stealth bombers, which according to latest estimates could cost $860 million each.
"My view is that we probably ought to scrap the B-2 or just buy the B-2s in production," Sen. Dale Bumpers, D-Ark., told Cheney.
Bumpers questioned whether the Soviets would be able to detect the stealth bomber if they develop sophisticated Aegis radar that the United States has in its naval fleet.
Cheney said the Air Force has not tested the stealth bomber against Aegis radar and that low observability testing of the bomber is scheduled to begin this fall.
"I'm confident the B-2 can do the mission that it's intended to do, but there's still a lot of testing to do," Cheney said.
by CNB