Bread Not Stones

The "Dirty Dozen" Defense Programs

"Is there anyone among you who,
if your child asks for bread,
will give a stone?"
(Matthew 7:9)

The "Dirty Dozen" list identifies wasteful military spending and targets specific programs that could sustain significant funding cuts or be terminated without jeopardizing national security. Often these programs represent efforts by Congress and the Administration to benefit special interests and constituent concerns at immense costs to the American taxpayer. A more detailed description of many of these programs is available at the Council for a Livable World Education Fund website, http://www, clw. org

1. Reduce National Missile Defense and Save the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty

With a deployment decision by the president scheduled for the summer of 2000, national missile defense has been brought to the forefront of American politics. A deployment decision this summer could place a system in operation by 2005. An intercept test failure in January 2000 and a controversial test in October 1999 have strengthened doubts about the program. Both an independent panel headed by Gen. Larry Welch and a report from the Pentagon's director of operational testing and evaluation, Philip E. Coyle III, acknowledged serious problems with the program and criticized the imposition of an artificial decision deadline.

Since the 1950's the United States has spent approximately $120 billion on missile defense with little to show. The president's FY 2001 budget includes $1.916 billion for national missile defense -- a $600 million increase from last year's request. Even a successful intercept on the third test is not evidence of a viable system. The Patriot missile defense system scored a hit on 17 out of 17 tests before its tragic failures in the Persian Gulf War. National missile defense poses a threat to the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. Violation of the treaty could jeopardize cooperative threat redudion programs with Russia and prompt China to speed up modernization of its small ICBM arsenal to ensure its deterrent capability.

2. Cut funding for the Comanche Helicopter

The Army's RAH-66 Comanche attack helicopter has been riddled with problems since its inception in 1983. Four billion dollars later, the first Comanche is still not scheduled to be operational until 2.007. Officially, the Army plans to buy 1,292 aircraft at a cost of $48 billion. However, The Wash/ngton ~nTes reported on February 28, 2000 that the Army may cut that request to 625 helicopters.

The president's FY 2001 budget includes $614 million for research and design of the Comanche, a $151 million increase from last year's request. The Pentagon's inspector general claims that it will cost a total of $1 O0 billion to design, construct and maintain the Comanche. An August 1999 GAO report outlined "significant risks of cost overruns, schedule delays and reduced pedormance."

3. Reduce Nuclear Force Levels

The United States currently maintains a force of about 6,700 active strategic nuclear weapons. The Department of Energy has requested almost $4.6 billion for FY 2001 to maintain the arsenal. Additional costs of approximately $2.0 billion each year are incurred by the Defense Department to operate and maintain the nuclear delivery vehicles. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that cutting to a nuclear arsenal of 2,500 would save $1.5 billion per year over current costs. While the START II treaty, signed by Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin, calls for reductions to about 3,000 or 3,500 nuclear weapons, the Russians have proposed going to 1,000 to 1,500 nuclear weapons. The US has so far rejected that proposal.

4. Cancel F-22 Air Force Advanced Tactical Fighter and the F/A -18E/F

Conceived in 1981 to combat the emerging threat from the Soviet Union, the F-22 tactical fighter has suffered cost overruns and test failures. Last year's prudent funding cut initiated by the House brought to the surface the immense cost and limited benefits of the F-22. At nearly $180 million a copy, the F-22's stealth technology will become obsolete with improved radar technology. The first aircraft shot down over Kosovo was a F-117 fighter with stealth technology.

While the F-22, if operable, would provide improved air-to-air combat capabilities over the F-15, the cost is simply too high. The Air Force could purchase four of the most advanced F-15's for the price of one F-22. Plans to purchase 339 F-22s will cost $63.8 billion. Meanwhile the Pentagon intends to purchase two other tactical fighters. The F/A-18 E/F, which is already in production, and the Joint Strike Fighter, the alleged cost saving multi-service workhorse. Cost to purchase all three fighters is estimated at $329 billion. According to the General Accounting Office, the F-151: now in our inventory is the premier tactical aircraft in the world. The Pentagon has requested $3.96 billion to purchase 10 F-22 aircraft and continue research and development.

The F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" is an upgrade of the existing F/A-18C/D "Hornet." However, recent testing has failed to demonstrate improved capability over the C/D version. The Navy and Marine Corps intend to purchase between 548 and 785 F/A-18 E/Fs, depending on when the Joint Strike Fighter comes on line. 548 F/A-18E/Fs would cost $46 billion. The GAO contends that U.S. capabilities would not be adversely affected by canceling the F/A-18E/E Forty-two "Super Hornets" have been requested at a cost of $3.08 billion.

5. Cancel the Crusader Self-Propelled Howitzer

The Crusader is intended to be the Army's 21st Century self-propelled howitzer. It relies on a number of technological firsts for field artillery including rapid fire of up to 8 to 10 rounds per minute and an auto-loader. Originally the Army planned to buy more than 1,1 O0 Crusaders by 2.014. Recently, Army officials have suggested reducing the number of Crusaders to 450 and delayed the program by three years (Washington Times, 2/28/00).

The Crusader has experienced a number of technical problems. In a February 2000 hearing, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and technology, Jacques Gansler, told a House subcommittee that the delay in the Crusader program could be attributed chiefly to software development problems. However, there is currently no backup for the auto-loader, which means if it fails the howitzer cannot fire. The howitzer and separate supply vehicle are also too heavy at 55 tons each. These problems and a waning need for massive ground assault vehicles prompted the GAO to recommend reassessing the program. The February 2000 report questions spending $13 billion on the Crusader when upgrades to the current Paladin system or the German PzH 2000 have not been completely investigated.

6. Terminate the National Ignition Facility

The National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California intends to allow scientists to circumvent the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty by simulating a thermonuclear explosion by firing 192 laser beams on a tiny target in the laboratory. The project is currently $300 million over budget and more than a year behind schedule. The current cost estimate of $5.1 billion and could balloon to $8 to $10 billion. None of the diagnostic testing has been completed, glass needed for the high-powered lasers has not been produced and three target designs have already been discarded.

The facility is plagued with severe technical and managerial problems, including efforts to cover up the budget overruns. In June of last year, Department of Energy Secretary Richardson declared the project was "on time and within budget." After discovering he had been misled by the lab, Richardson ordered that the cost overruns be taken from other funds at the Livermore Lab.

7. Reduce Total Foreign Intelligence Budget

The U.S. currently spends roughly $30 billion per year on intelligence programs -- by comparison Russia spends the same amount on its entire military. Of this $30 biffion around $6.2 billion is spent on the National Reconnaissance Office.(NRO). Much of this money is devoted to expensive satellites, which have lower utility with the end of the Cold War.

During the 1980s, the NRO's budget nearly tripled and it has plans to spend billions more on a new generation of spy satellites. However, according to John Millis, staff director of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, "we don't come near to processing, analyzing and disseminating the intelligence we collect right now." He calls the operation, "the most expensive intelligence collection program in the history of the world."

Information collection requirements have decreased dramatically in the last few years. Current priorities have shifted to peacekeeping, terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and economic competitiveness -- chores for which satellites provide few answers. Therefore, the total foreign intelligence budget should be reduced by 10 percent, primarily from NRO spending on new intelligence satellites.

8. Cancel next aircraft carrier (CVN-77)

Aircraft carriers afford the U.S. the ability to project power without reliance on forward bases. However, carriers are expensive, both to build and operate. Each carrier is prQtected by an escort fleet, which consists of several cruisers and destroyers and often an attack submarine. Fleet oilers accompany the force, as do ships that replenish the jet fuel and ordinance of the air wing. Furthermore, many of the 80 planes in an air wing are dedicated to protecting the carrier. The current requirement for 12 carriers is based on the planning scenario of having to fight two wars nearly simultaneously, a situation judged unrealistic by many analysts. Much of the debate in Congress on building another aircraft carrier has centered on the desire to keep Virginia's Newport News Shipbuilding in business.

Construction of the last Nimitz class carrier, the CVN-77, will commence in 2001. With eight other Nimitz class carriers in operation and another slated for delivery in December of 2002 there is no need to spend $5.2 billion to build the CVN-77. While the CVN-77 presents new radar technology and reduced manpower requirements, the Navy placed these improvements 50th on its wish list for additional spending. The Navy also plans to begin construction of the CVNX class of aircraft carriers in FY 2006 having already spent $200 million on research and design with $235 million requested for FY 2001. The CVNX boasts an advanced electrical grid allowing easier adaption to improving technologies and reduced manpower requirements. The president has requested $4.377 billion for fiscal year 2001 for the CVN-77.

9. Cancel the New Attack Submarine (NSSN)

While the U.S. Los Angeles Class submarine, SSN-668, is unquestionably the most technologically advanced submarine in the world, Congress funded the production of three Seawolf Submarines at a total cost of $13.1 billion, in order to preserve submarine manufacturing skills at Groton, CT. Although cheaper per submarine than the Seawolf, the New Attack Submarine (NSSN) was originally being purchased to maintain submarine manufaduring skills in Connecticut and Virginia. Only recently have NSSN proponents changed their tune and argued that the attack subs are needed to retain naval dominance. However, aside from a rapidly deteriorating Russian navy no, potential enemy could come close to matching our naval might. China is years away from developing the potential to launch a significant amphibious assault on Taiwan. North Korea's minuscule fleet contains 26 aging Soviet-era submarines. Iran and Serbia have five subs each, Libya has four, Cuba one and Iraq none. The U.S. currently has a fleet of 76 submarines, of which 56 are attack subs. The Quadrennial Defense Review directs the number of attack subs to be reduced to 50 in 2003. The Navy plans to purchase 30 submarines at a cost of $65.2 billion. For fiscal year 2001 the president requested over $2 billion to continue research and the production of the third submarine.

10. Retire Trident Submarines and Discontinue Trident II (D-5) Missile Procurement and Submarine Backfit

At an annual operating cost of $77 million each, it is no surprise that the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. J.L. Johnson told Congress he would cut the Trident submarine force from 18 to 14 last January. Plans to upgrade the subs with new Trident II (D-5) missiles will cost $5 to $7 billion.

The Trident II submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) will replace the less accurate C-4 missile on Trident submarines. The administration intends to procure an additional 84 Trident II (D-5) missiles through 2005. For FY 2001 the president requested $463.9 million to purchase 12 missiles. The same number will be purchased this year bringing the total to over 350, enough to equip ten Trident II submarines with 24 missiles each and provide 110 for testing purposes. There is also a proposal to modify four subs to carry Tomahawk cruise missiles at roughly $154 million per ship.

11. Cut Taxpayer Support for Arms Transfers

Weapons manufacturers often justify high levels of arms exports by claiming that such trade preserves American jobs. However, the billions of dollars in annual U.S. taxpayer subsidies for this trade could reap equal or better returns in other industries. This calls into question both the rationale for such subsidies and the government's support for arms export promotion based on economics alone.

Currently, Israel, Egypt and Jordan receive $3.1 billion in military aid to buy U.S. weapons. Taxpayer subsidies also pay salaries for government employees who promote U.S. arms sales abroad and for those who process arms export requests at home. Over $30 million each year is spent for the use of U.S. military personnel and equipment to market U.S. weapons in "air shows," a cost which is not reimbursed by the arms corporations which profit from this aid. An effort to end the air show subsidy by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) was killed in conference last year.

The FY 2001 defense budget includes programs which help foreign states acquire U.S. weapons free of charge or at deep discount. Up to $425 million worth of excess defense articles from the Pentagon's arsenal may be given away or sold on the cheap each year. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of arms are usually given away in "emergency drawdowns" from U.S. stocks for unexpected military requirements such as peacekeeping and counter-narcotics. In addition, the Pentagon authorizes no-cost leases of U.S. equipment at a loss of tens of millions of dollars a year.

12. Cancel the LHD-8 Wasp Class Helicopter Carrier

The LHD amphibious assault helicopter carrier is designed to replace the older LHA carrier. The main improvements include the ability to carry two more helicopters and two more LCAC (landing craft air cushioning) hovercraft. The eighth LHD carrier was born in 1998 when Sen. Trent Lott secured $50 million for research and design. Last year Lott added $375 million to begin construction of the unrequested ship by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The estimated cost of the LHD-8 is 1.5 billion -- nearly twice the cost of the LHD-7, commissioned in 1998. With seven other LHD carriers in service by early 2001 and five LHA's there is no need to construct a new ship. If improved capabilities are desperately needed, an LHA carrier can be upgraded for approximately $950 million. A substantial savings when compared to the price of a new LHD.

— Adapted from the Council for a Livable World Education Fund "Behind the Numbers: An Analysis of the FY 2001 Defense Budget Resolution." More information is available at their website www. clw. org.

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