Charles Skelton: “I speak today to keep this House of Representatives from making a mistake. This House made a mistake in the past. In…”

“I speak today to keep this House of Representatives from making a mistake. This House made a mistake in the past. In 1939 it sent a message when it failed to spend those dollars necessary to upgrade the harbor at Guam, telling the Japanese Empire that we would not defend the Pacific. If we turn down additional B-2's and adopt this amendment, we will be sending a message that deterrence does not count. We will be sending a message that we will not take the best advantage of our technological superiority and put it into the defense of our wonderful Nation. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment. Today's debate will shape the future not only of our United States Air Force, but of our national defense. It is a debate affecting American air doctrine and a debate about our ability to meet the basic requirements of our national military strategy. Additional B-2's are important for modernizing our aging fleet, and it is aging; maintaining our technological edge, for which America has always been in the forefront; and maintaining within the Air Force an ability to project force against an enemy from a great distance.”