Norman D. Dicks: “You requested my colleagues and I provide your committee with an independent look at the adequacy of the Nation's heavy…”

“You requested my colleagues and I provide your committee with an independent look at the adequacy of the Nation's heavy bomber force. This is an important issue as we move into the new security era and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to offer our counsel to you and your committee. In our review, we first examined the planned future of the bomber force, its role in supporting U.S. national security, and the potential offered by the B-2's. We then examined the sources of Pentagon opposition to additional B-2's production and the recent series of studies the Department of Defense has sent to Congress regarding the bomber force. We reached two fundamental conclusions. First, long-range air power will be more important than ever in the decades ahead. Consequently, we do not believe that the planned force of 21 B-2's will satisfy foreseeable U.S. national security requirements. Second, Pentagon opposition to further B-2's production is shortsighted and parochial. It reflects a consensus across the services that long-range air power can be safely abandoned in the long run--a view with which we strongly disagree.”