Summary Of High-Level Discussion Of The B-2 Bomber Program

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The Center for Security Policy today published a summary of a recent roundtable conference on the B-2 bomber involving senior figures from the executive branch, the Congress, industry and the press. Participants included Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Paul Wolfowitz, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Welch, former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Robert Costello, former Assistant Secretary of Defense Larry Korb, and ACDA Director Ron Lehman.

The roundtable, which was held in Washington on 26 February 1990, thoroughly considered such topical questions as:

  • Does the United States Still Require a Nuclear Deterrent?
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  • How Important Is a Reliable Bomber Force to Deterrence?
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  • If the B-2 Is So Important, Will It Work?
  •  

  • Can the U.S. Safely Make Deep Reductions in Strategic Forces Without the B-2?
  •  

  • Can The B-2 Be Afforded?

 

According to Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., the Center’s director, "This roundtable enabled key figures in the debate over the B-2 — both proponents and critics — to engage in a rigorous, in-depth review of the facts. In the course of the eight-hour discussion, every one of the major arguments concerning this program was aired. As the Highlights of the Roundtable on the B-2 released by the Center today indicate, those most frequently cited as grounds for cancelling — or radically curtailing — the B-2 program simply did not stand up to scrutiny."

Gaffney added, "Our only regret was that a number of those who might have benefited from exposure to the experts’ insights and the opportunity for an informed give-and-take chose not to participate. As a result, the representatives of the General Accounting Office and ’60 Minutes,’ for example, who were invited to attend were not present to defend their respective, recent critiques of the program — or to be exposed to evidence that contradicts or invalidates their findings."

Copies of the Highlights may be obtained by contacting the Center.

Center for Security Policy

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