*EPF306 02/28/01
Bush Seeks $310,500 Million for FY 2002 Defense Spending
(Budget calls for a revamped national security strategy) (560)
By Merle D. Kellerhals, Jr.
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- President Bush, through his fiscal year 2002 budget, wants to employ the power of advanced U.S. technology to change the national defense architecture in order to combat emerging global threats in a new century.

The Bush administration's proposed fiscal year (FY) 2002 budget provides an increase of $14,200 million, or 4.8 percent, in defense spending above the current level to $310,500 million. The defense spending proposal is contained in the Bush administration's $1,900,000 million budget request sent to the U.S. Congress February 28.

However, Bush said in his budget request that the outcome of a major national security strategy review currently being conducted by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld will likely determine final 2002 funding levels.

Rumsfeld is conducting a review of the Defense Department with the goal of developing a new national security strategy, force structure, and budget priorities that will guide future decisions on military spending. The last revision of the national security strategy was developed a decade ago and introduced the Regional Defense Strategy as a means to transition to the post-Cold War period. That strategy has largely remained unaltered. According to published news reports the final defense budget will be released in April and will reflect changes in spending.

A key spending proposal in the Pentagon's budget is an increase in defense research and development appropriations by $20,000 million between 2002 and 2006. In the coming fiscal year that begins October 1, Bush is seeking a $2,600 million initiative for missile defense alternatives and new technologies to support his planned transformation of U.S. military capabilities.

The research and development spending will focus on leap-ahead technologies for new weapons and intelligence systems; improvements to the laboratory and test range infrastructure; technologies aimed at reducing the costs of weapons and intelligence systems; efforts that are focused on countering unconventional threats to national security; and funding to continue development of a missile defense program.

Bush said that acquiring a ballistic missile defense system is "America's most pressing national security challenge. Outmoded arms control treaties must not compromise America's security."

The threats of the Cold War decades have been replaced "by a world in which threats come from rogue states bent on acquiring weapons of mass destruction and terrorism -- threats as unconventional as they are unpredictable," Bush said in his budget plan.

The Bush defense proposal also includes $1,400 million for military compensation to improve quality of life for military personnel, and $400 million to improve the quality of housing for military personnel and their families.

The president's plan also calls for closing more military bases around the United States, saying the Pentagon budget is carrying a 23 percent excess in estimated base capacity. The U.S. military base system was actually developed for the Cold War years and reflects that strategy in location and size.

"It is clear that new rounds of base closures will be necessary to shape the military more efficiently," Bush said. From 1988 to 1995 the Pentagon closed 97 major military bases and facilities.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Website: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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