May 2, 1989 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 7851 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS American public. Not only have we signed Both Europe and Japan are success stories NATIONAL SECURITY the first arms control agreement that has of post-war American foreign policy. We CHALLENGES led to the elimination of a whole class of nu­ helped friends and former enemies to re­ clear missiles, but we are probably in the build their shattered economies after World best position since the early 1970's to sign War II. Thus, our overwhelming economic HON. IKE SKELTON further agreements to reduce both conven­ and military dominance was bound to dimin­ OF MISSOURI tional and strategic nuclear forces and at ish. Our task now is to manage both securi­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the same time increase stability. ty and economic relations with both of Tuesday, May 2, 1989 These security policies have brought these world power centers. Budget and about a substantial improvement in the trade deficits have put the United States in Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on April 28, I international perception of the power and rather difficult economic circumstances. A addressed the seminary at Southwest Missou­ influence on the United States throughout shifting of the military burdens will have to ri State University at Springfield, MO, concern­ the world. While the actual military balance take place to allow us to put our economic ing our present and future national security between the two countries has not changed house back in order. challenges. I include it herewith: much, the atmosphere of great concern that A NEW DEFINITION OF SECURITY marked the beginning of the 1980's has been ADDRESS BY CONGRESSMAN IKE SKELTON, As part of this effort, the U.S. Govern­ AMERICA'S SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE displaced by one of hope as we look to the 1990's. ment needs to adopt a broader definition of 1990's, SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNI­ National security, one that includes econom­ VERSITY, SPRINGFIELD, MO, APRIL 28, 1989 President George Bush will put together the national security policy of the United ic as well as political/military consider­ INTRODUCTION States for the next 4 years. He will encoun­ ations. Too often economic and security de­ Let me thank Bill Van Cleave for having ter many of the same challenges the United cisions move on separate tracks. While we invited me to address you this evening. At States has faced over the past 40 years. He are stronger militarily today than we were 8 this same time, I want to applaud his efforts will also confront new ones under very years ago, economically we are weaker. in establishing the Center for Defense and changed circumstances. Much greater coordination will be required Strategic Studies here at Southwest Missou­ Right now, in an effort being coordinated in the future. ri State. Such well known centers have ex­ by National Security Adviser Brent Scow­ This helps to explain the recent contro­ isted at a number of fine universities along croft, the administration is conducting a versy within the administration over the the east and west coasts of our country, and fundamental review of U.S. National Securi­ FSX fighter agreement with Japan. The now we have one here at our own Southwest ty Policy. It is not scheduled to be complet­ truth is that Japan is both a very valued po­ Missouri State University, the heart of the ed until some time next month. Only then litical ally while at the same time a very Midwest. will the administration be ready to proceed tough economic competitor. While State Having looked through the program that to address the security challenges facing and Defense Department representatives you have scheduled for these 2 days, I decid­ this country. defended the agreement primarily on politi­ ed that I would try to touch upon some of cal and military terms, Commerce Depart­ the issues of interest to you. At the same UNITED STATES-SOVIET RELATIONS ment representatives stressed economic and time, however, I want to devote some effort The most important piece of old business technological concerns. to addressing an area of particular interest consists of managing with patience and skill Commerce officials managed to get a re­ to me and one that I think is of strategic the United States-Soviet relationship. The vised clarification of the terms of the Agree­ significance to the United States-develop­ challenge here is much the same as it has ment. Those revisions included tighter pro­ ments in Latin America. been over the past 40 years: avoiding nucle­ visions on technology transfer and a firm First, let me provide some background. ar war, turning away Soviet thrusts in the commitment ensuring 40 percent American Upon coming into office in January 1981, developing world, and attempting to trans­ participation in FSX production. Japan is the Reagan administration convinced Con­ form the competition between the 2 coun­ now reviewing the proposed clarifications. gress that cuts in Defense spending in the tries into more peaceful ventures. The drama is not yet ended. 1970's, under both the Nixon-Ford adminis­ The dramatic changes taking place in the This case may signal that a change in trations and the Carter administration, had Soviet Union today hold the promise that policy-in the definition of national securi­ left the United States exposed. The humili­ we might be watching, if not the end of the ty-is in the offing. Only time will tell. ation of Iran holding American diplomats cold war, at least the beginning of the end. ESTABLISHING OBJECTIVES hostage for 444 days, along with the Soviet But the various pledges made by General Secretary Gorbachev: a 14 percent reduc­ In putting together a national security invasion of Afghanistan, convinced the strategy for the 1990's the President must American public that a change was re­ tion in defense spending and a 500,000 man reduction of active military forces-only be clear about objectives and priorities. Mili­ quired. tarily, the United States has three broad ob­ REAGAN'S SECURITY STRATEGY touch upon the margins of Soviet military strength. Even if they are carried out, the jectives: ( 1), to deter nuclear war, two, to The chief elements of the Reagan admin­ effort to work out a post-cold war security contribute to the defense of Western istration security strategy, broadly support­ arrangement will probably take the next 20 Europe and Korea where American troops ed by the Congress, included: an impressive years. Now is not the time to become impa­ are stationed, and three to be able to inter­ military buildup of both nuclear and con­ tient, to try to settle all our outstanding vene in areas of the Third World where ventional forces, the latter symbolized by issues with the Soviets in the shortest time American interests may require such action. the 600 ship Navy; a tough position on stra­ possible as some would argue. We came to While overriding consideration should be tegic arms negotiations; an effort to con­ regret the overselling of detente in the early given to deterring nuclear war, we have a front the Soviet Union with superior Ameri­ 1970's later that decade. This time we have very robust capacity to deter such a conflict. can technology through the Strategic De­ an opportunity to learn from our mistakes Our ballistic missile submarine force, the fense Initiative <SOD; and the willingness to and practice the kind of tough minded de­ deployment of thousands of cruise missiles support local resistance forces fighting the tente that can produce genuine results. on Navy attack subs and B-52's, the pro­ Soviets or their proxies in the Third curement of B-1 bombers, and the improved World-in Afghanistan, Angola, Nicaragua, UNITED STATES-ALLIED RELATIONS command and control capabilities that we and Cambodia. If dealing with the Soviet Union continues bought during this decade, will stand us in These security policies have worked. The to be the most important item of old busi­ good stead for years to come. Soviets, on the march in the 1970's, are now ness, equally important is managing our re­ In Europe, the military balance is not as in the process of cutting costly foreign lationships with Japan and Europe. The comfortable as we would like it to be. An im­ policy ventures-in Afghanistan, Vietnam, three-Japan, Europe, and the Soviet balance of forces exists between the Warsaw and Angola. While critics of SDI in this Union-are interrelated. Security concerns Pact and NATO. Yet until our allies are country have belittled the idea of strategic predominated 40 years ago. Now trade and willing to make a greater contribution to defense, SDI captured the attention of the economic matters with our allies compete correcting this imbalance, we simply do not Soviets, not to mention the support of the with security issues. have the budgetary resources to correct a e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 7852 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS May 2, 1989 problem they appear unwilling to correct. new beginning, a bipartisan approach grand vision of an earlier era proved illuso­ However, despite this imbalance, the situa­ toward dealing with the problems of Central ry. But, making the Western Hemisphere tion in Europe is fairly stable. The begin­ America. And make no mistake about it, a safe for democracy is a goal within our ning of negotiations on conventional forces bipartisan approach is an indispensable re­ reach.