DATE=10/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240317
TITLE=U-S BUDGET / MILITARY SPENDING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS HAVE AGREED ON A 
NEW FEDERAL BUDGET THAT CONTAINS THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN 
PEACETIME MILITARY SPENDING SINCE 1985.  THE NINE-BILLION-DOLLAR 
INCREASE FOR THE PENTAGON IS EXPECTED TO BE PASSED BY CONGRESS 
NEXT WEEK. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS. 

TEXT:  THE BUDGET INCREASE PUSHES OVERALL PENTAGON SPENDING FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 1999 TO ABOUT 280-BILLION DOLLARS. 

THE REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS PUSHED FOR THE INCREASE, SAYING U-S 
MILITARY READINESS HAS DETERIORATED IN THE PAST 14 YEARS.  
MILITARY OFFICERS COMPLAIN THEY HAVE TOO FEW SPARE PARTS, TOO 
LITTLE MONEY FOR TRAINING AND THAT TROOPS LIVE IN DILAPIDATED 
HOUSING. 

IN ANNOUNCING THE BUDGET AGREEMENT THURSDAY, HOUSE (OF 
REPRESENTATIVES) SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH SAID AMERICANS WITH THE 
COURAGE TO SERVE IN THE U-S MILITARY DESERVE THE BEST WEAPONS AND
FINANCIAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE.

                    /// GINGRICH ACT 008 ///

         I AM VERY PROUD THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1985 
         THAT, IN PEACETIME, WE HAVE INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDING 
         BECAUSE OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM DESERVE THE 
         SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (APPLAUSE). 

                        /// END ACT /// 

ONE-POINT-ONE-BILLION DOLLARS OF THE NEW MONEY GOES FOR WHAT 
PENTAGON OFFICIALS CALL "READINESS" -- MORE SPARE PARTS, BETTER 
TRAINING AND IMPROVED HOUSING. 

THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF THE NEW MONEY -- ABOUT TWO-BILLION DOLLARS 
-- GOES TO INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS.  THE INCREASE FOLLOWS CRITICISM
OF THE U-S INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY'S FAILURE TO PREDICT THE RECENT
INDIAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS TEST.

THE BUDGET AGREEMENT ALSO ADDS ONE-BILLION DOLLARS TO EFFORTS TO 
DEVELOP A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM THAT WOULD PROTECT THE UNITED 
STATES FROM ATTACK.  THE UNITED STATES HAS SPENT ABOUT 40-BILLION
DOLLARS DURING THE PAST 15 YEARS ON THE PROGRAM, BUT HAS  NOT  
YET DEVELOPED A SATISFACTORY SYSTEM TO SHOOT DOWN INCOMING 
MISSILE WARHEADS. 

DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN HAS ARGUED AGAINST THE 
MISSILE-DEFENSE INCREASE, SAYING THE PROBLEM IS TECHNICAL -- NOT 
FINANCIAL.  BUT REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SAY RECENT MISSILE TESTS 
BY IRAN AND NORTH KOREA MAKE A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM FOR THE 
UNITED STATES AN URGENT PRIORITY. 

U-S CONTRIBUTIONS TO PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN BOSNIA WILL TAKE 
UP ANOTHER ONE-POINT-NINE BILLION DOLLARS.

ANOTHER MAJOR PORTION OF THE BUDGET, ONE-POINT-ONE-BILLION 
DOLLARS, GOES TO REPROGRAM THE PENTAGON'S COMPUTERS SO THE 
MACHINES WON'T READ THE LAST TWO DIGITS OF THE YEAR 2000 AS 1900.
DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN SAYS THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM COULD CAUSE 
MANY COMPUTERS TO BREAK DOWN OR GIVE WRONG DATA -- WHICH COULD BE
DISASTROUS IF THE COMPUTER IS RUNNING A MISSILE WARNING SYSTEM OR
OTHER CRITICAL EQUIPMENT.

THE BALANCE OF THE BUDGET INCREASE WILL BROADEN THE MILITARY'S 
EFFORT TO STOP THE FLOW OF DRUGS INTO THE UNITED STATES, AND 
IMPROVE SECURITY AT AMERICAN EMBASSIES ABROAD.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/RRM

16-Oct-98 3:41 PM EDT (1941 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.