Word: rapid
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That is only one of the innovations that military reformers are demanding. Some others: smaller, lighter fighter planes that, they contend, would be easier to maintain and keep in the air than supersophisticated craft; light tanks for the Rapid Deployment Force that could fit snugly into most cargo planes; greater use by all services of V-STOL (very short takeoff and landing) planes, like the Marine Corps' highly successful Harrier...
...nation's defenses for years to come. That excuse, however, will not last beyond fiscal 1982. By the time it presents the 1983 budget to Congress next January, the Ad ministration will have to sort out its ideas on what kind of Army, Navy and Air Force (and Rapid Deployment Force) the nation needs for the rest of the 1980s, what weapons they will wield, what kind of strategic doctrine they will be asked to carry out, what sort of manpower policy will fill the ranks, and what assistance the defense production industry needs...
...Rapid Deployment Force. It is supposed to be the spearhead of a new global strategy that breaks free of the old obsession with preparing for a war in Europe to counter more varied threats. Weinberger often speaks of the U.S. as an "island nation" heavily dependent on imports of strategic materials. For example, 90% of the chromium needed for jet engines comes from Zimbabwe or South Africa; 90% of the cobalt vital to mining and machine tools is imported, mostly from Zaire. All are vulnerable to Soviet troublemaking or internal difficulties that could shut off supplies. The most serious threat...
...compelled him to crack down on the services' long tradition of competition and bickering. "Cap has said over and over again that he will not stand for gamesmanship," says an aide. Weinberger quickly demonstrated that he means it. He intervened in the bitter interservice dispute over the Rapid Deployment Force by creating a new four-service command for Southwest Asia. Once when several Air Force generals fell into disagreement over some very basic figures on aircraft costs, Weinberger ended the session and told the officials to come back when they could all argue from the same set of facts...
...video tapes and discs, stereo records and Atari electronic games. He may add specially crafted lounge chairs at $1,000 each and banquettes ($2,000). For the addicted media roominator there is also a computer to keep the collection organized. Some dealers complain that advances in equipment are so rapid there is no way to keep up with the latest electronic toys...