Walter B. Jones: “having attended, like many of my colleagues, several Memorial Day services over the recent recess, I continue to become…”

“having attended, like many of my colleagues, several Memorial Day services over the recent recess, I continue to become more and more concerned by America's dwindling national defense. By failing to maintain a strong military force, we are in effect dishonoring those who have served and died for our freedom. Please allow me to highlight some recent events. Surprising the United States intelligence community, India conducted five underground nuclear weapons tests last month. Neighboring Pakistan has since conducted six nuclear weapons tests of its own. It has been reported that Iraq has enough deadly biological weapons to kill every human being on Earth. And despite administration claims that no nuclear missiles are aimed at American children, a CIA report released last month reveals that 13 of China's 18 long-range strategic missiles have nuclear warheads aimed at United States cities. Mr. Speaker, we do not live in a safe world. America faces new threats and dangers each and every day, and yet we continue to cut our defense budget. The President's request for the fiscal year 1999 defense budget represents the 14th consecutive year of real decline in defense spending. Our forces today are 32 percent smaller than they were just 10 years ago. In 1992, we had 18 Army divisions; we now have 10. And that same year we had 24 fighter wings; we now have 13. We also had 546 Navy ships in 1992; we now have 333.”