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CNN Live Today

New Battle Emerges Over Defense Spending

Aired May 03, 2002 - 14:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also from the Pentagon, it's investigating right now whether the army went behind the defense secretary's back to try and save the Crusader tank.

It is the latest skirmish in the battle over defense spending.

Our CNN senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, with more on that now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The embattled Crusader next-generation artillery system may have finally met its match in Def. Sect. Donald Rumsfeld, who has given the army 30 days to submit a plan to terminate the $11 billion program.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: It clearly suggests that that's the intention, to cancel it.

MCINTYRE: After September 11th, Rumsfeld plans to cut high- ticket weapons were put on hold. Now, pressed for money to prosecute the war on terrorism, Crusader is the first of several expensive programs he has in his sites.

At 40 tons, the Crusader howitzer, made by United Defense Industries, controlled by the Carlyle Group, is too heavy for most transport planes. That doesn't quite fit the army's plans for a lighter, more mobile force.

Nevertheless, the army insists without Crusader, it will be out- gunned by President Bush's axis of evil: Iran, Iraq and North Korea.

THOMAS WHITE, ARMY SECT.: We always were against the Soviets, and we would be against a lot of those people. And Crusader is fundamental to redressing that imbalance.

MCINTYRE: Defying the Pentagon, the Army is circulating a memo of talking points on Capital Hill, arguing that killing the Crusader would put soldiers at risk.

That's not sitting well with the civilian in charge.

RUMSFELD: I would add that, needless to say, I have a minimum of high regard for that kind of behavior. MCINTYRE: But the army is banking on its friends in Congress.

SEN. JAMES INHOFE (R-OK), ARMED SERVICES: It is the crown jewel of army modernization. They have said this and said this and said this, and nothing's changed. And, again, the bottom line is, our young people have to have superior equipment. Right now, they have inferior equipment.

MCINTYRE: That the Crusader is not dead yet illustrates how difficult it is to kill any major weapons system. Pentagon officials say it will be a test of Rumsfeld effectiveness to see if he can impose his will on a resistant army.

Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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