Word: laird
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Defense Secretary Melvin Laird had staked the Administration's case on the contention that the Russians aim to achieve nuclear supremacy. He maintained that they will have the capability by the mid-'70s to jeopardize the American power to retaliate against a first strike. If that forecast proves accurate, the foundation of U.S. nuclear strategy could disintegrate. There would be no capability to inflict "assured destruction" on the attacker...
Self-Study. The day after Beckman's appearance, Defense Secretary Melvin Laird issued an apologetic statement in which he said: "I am determined to ensure that full and accurate information on C-5A procurement, and all other procurement matters, is given to the Congress and to the public promptly. I am also determined to ensure that past mistakes in procurement of this transport aircraft will not be repeated...
...Defense Department is trying other measures in an effort to recapture national esteem. Laird and Deputy Defense Secretary David Packard last weekend led a contingent of Pentagon officials (and their wives) to Airlie House in Virginia. The purpose of the self-study was to seek ways of cutting the $80 billion defense budget and work out new procedures for keeping future spending in check. Strategists are also considering the possibility of shrinking the armed forces' size by about 1,000,000 men over the next three years. There are now 3,400,000 in uniform...
...Laird is expected soon to appoint an unprecedented official commission, including people from outside the Pentagon, to review the strategic priorities for the next few decades. To forestall any doubts about the commission's findings, the chairmanship will probably go to a prominent outsider, perhaps a journalist. Any new Administration could be expected to take at least a perfunctory reappraisal of the nation's military posture. Under attack, Nixon's men seem to be taking seriously the need for a genuine and comprehensive review...
...Norfolk, Va., Laird dismissed reports that the Administration is considering the face-saving compromise of proposing another year of research and development. Senate Republicans who oppose Nixon's ABM plan want the Administration to begin strategic arms talks with the Russians, then use this as an excuse to delay construction of ABM sites...