John Glenn: “There is another area that I have some very serious concerns about, very serious concerns, and that is doubts about…”

“There is another area that I have some very serious concerns about, very serious concerns, and that is doubts about whether our national defense might become victim to this frantic race. The amendment has a military conflict waiver which is extremely important, but I do fear that this may not go far enough. What happens if America faces a military threat--not a conflict, a military threat? Will we be able to gear our forces up from the confines of a straitjacket? We have a very interesting cycle that has gone on in this country ever since the days of the Spanish-American War. It is interesting to look at. It shows that on an average there is a 17-year cycle in which we have a buildup and builddown of our military forces. Ever since the days of the Spanish-American War we buildup, builddown, buildup, builddown. Every time we have been so optimistic that peace has broken out and we can relax we have cut back on our military forces. Later we have turned right around and built up again on this 17-year cycle. Military readiness is not something that just happens overnight.”