America’s Defenders Depend On American Suppliers by William R. Hawkins (NAPSA)—After the 1991 Gulf War, many victorious American military units came homeonly to be disbanded as the armed forces were cut by 40 percent during the 1990s in the mistaken belief that the world had become a more peaceful, harmonious place. The same error may be madeagain, CT this time cutting even deeper into the Hawkins —————- defense industrial base whoseskills and innovation created the “shock and awe” weapons that brought such quick victory in the Iraq War. The threat comes from civilian “transformers” in the Pentagon who want to change current law to allow widespread waivers of domestic source and content requirements and of “Buy American” provisions. Such waivers would allow foreign defense firms—many owned by foreign governments at odds with current U.S. policy—to replace U.S. firms and workers in supplying America’s armed forces. The United States cannot afford to let happen to the defense industry what has happened to other industries that have gone down the outsourcing route. Manyof these globalizing corporations have “hollowed out” their American operations so much they can no longer function independently of their foreign connections. It would be the ultimate “penny wise, pound foolish” error if American military forces or weapons manufacturers ever became dependent on imports whose supply could be disrupted or withheld ina crisis. Defense suppliers are open to the same temptations to outsource production and jobs to raise profits as other commercial firms. But the defense industry is not like other lines of business. It provides the wherewithal needed to maintain America’s global preeminence and national security. American defense firms’ continued vitality—and independence from foreign control—must be preserved as a core objective in national security planning. Domestie sourcing and “Buy America” provisions support that goal. William R. Hawkins is Senior Fellow at the U.S. Business and Industry Council in Washington, D.C.
