Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993 TAG: 9302140089
SECTION: NATL/INTL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROBERT BURNS ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
MILITARY CHIEFS DENY STARTING `INSURRECTION'
First came the standard fare of military briefings: charts and maps filled with acronyms. Then, as a final word, came this extraordinary disclaimer: "This report is not the opening shot of an insurrection."The long, detailed briefing by the Joint Chiefs of Staff was designed to explain its recommendations for ways to shrink and reorganize the military.
The recommendations did not go nearly as far as President Clinton and some in Congress have suggested in eliminating duplication in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. Rather than a map for major change, it was an encyclopedia of reasons why big change is unnecessary or even dangerous.
Thus, apparently, the unusually public disavowal of disloyalty to the commander in chief, who thinks the post-Cold War military needs a shakeup and slimdown.
Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joints Chiefs, has been taking most of the heat recently for actions seen by some as resistance - even insubordination - to Clinton's push for change. He seemed mindful of that accusation, which he vehemently denies, when he led Friday's briefing for reporters.
He disputed the notion that he and the service chiefs had deliberately watered down the blueprint as a challenge to Clinton and the armed services' civilian overseers.
"There was a suggestion that somehow the chiefs were all fighting against themselves so that there would be no change, and [that] this was a grand scheme to take on the new administration," Powell said. "That's just nonsense."
He said he and the service chiefs had wrestled with many difficult issues addressed in the report, and simply could not resolve some.
"This is no insurrection," Powell declared.
Powell seemed pained having to deny that he was at odds with Clinton. Earlier in the week, he took to the TV talk shows to deny a New York Times report that he wanted to retire early out of dissatisfaction with Clinton's policies.
Powell's report, which is required by Congress, recommended some organizational changes for the armed forces and the elimination of some weapons and facilities. But it gave a resounding "no" to suggestions made by some congressional Democrats and by Clinton during the campaign that the services undergo radical change, such as merging some of their air power.
The Joint Chiefs chairman said he was ready to take new marching orders from Clinton, but that Friday's report had been prepared during the Bush administration.
"We are in the third, fourth week, I guess, of the Clinton administration," he said in a tone of slight exasperation. "We are prepared to go right back to work and deal with this concern. We are not here posturing ourselves to resist."
The most publicized idea for radical change - one embraced by Georgia Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and by Clinton during the campaign - is merging some or all of the four services' aviation arms.
"It may have a surface attractiveness, but it is fundamentally dumb," Powell said Friday.
Powell said instead of eliminating one or more of them, aviation in each service should be cut back.
The report shot down other ideas for consolidation, including:
Giving the role of contingency or expeditionary forces either to the Army or Marines, but not both.
Giving to one service the job of combat search and rescue.
Combining the services' chaplains and legal corps.