DON'T THROW AWAY WORK DONE BUILDING PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

When it comes to our national security, I have always contended and always will that we shouldn't mess around. Unfortunately, not everyone in the Congress shares my commitment to this ideal because, quite frankly, actions (as in votes) are much louder than words.

I am specifically concerned about the drastic cuts in defense proposed by President Clinton and recently endorsed by a majority in the House of Representatives. Simply put, I believe the ~"downsizing" of the defense budget goes too far.

For instance, Clinton wants cuts totaling $186.8 billion through FY1998 that's 20 percent more than what President Bush, under the advisement of General Colin Powell, requested in the 1990 Base Force Plan. Although we must reduce spending in many areas of the federal budget, I remain steadfast that the new administration should not be overzealous in accelerating already planned defense cuts.

Defense cuts must be very prudent. I think when it comes to defense, it is better to have what you may need and not have to use it than to need something and not have it.

I am pleased to say that Georgia's Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, shares my concerns. Nunn recently argued that the Defense Department would have to make unacceptably large cutbacks in the number and readiness of its forces. Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office says the only net cuts in Clinton's proposed budget come from defense; net non-defense spending actually rises.

One need not look back more than the last decade to help put the importance of this issue into perspective.

"Peace through Strength" helped us win the Cold War. Now is no time to throw all of that away. Russia, the Middle East, and various other places around the globe still are dangerous and very volatile. A Russian commentator recently said, "Events in my country could make the horrors of this century even the horrors of Stalin and Hitler pale in comparison."

The United States must remain committed and prepared to take on any future challenges to our freedom and security. Overall, we must step lightly into the arena of defense cuts, rather than heavily march down a path which could put all of us at risk.