J. Thurmond: “One troubling conclusion that emerged from these hearings is the apparent lack of a sound, well-conceived national…”

“One troubling conclusion that emerged from these hearings is the apparent lack of a sound, well-conceived national security strategy. At the same time a major news story appeared in the Washington Post which supported my fears that the administration lacks consensus and coherence in its approach to national security strategy. This is disturbing because a coherent, overall strategy should provide the basis for judgments about the resources devoted to defense and the force levels required. How much Defense spending is enough in today's still dangerous world? How much security can we afford in today's economic climate? An agreed-on strategy can give us standards by which to answer these questions. It can provide consensus on what military spending should actually buy, and clarity about what we must defend. Without such standards, one man's budget cuts are just as valid as another man's increases. Sooner or later America is going to face another test of the Nation's military capacities and national leadership.”