Show Weakness Invites War Given the justifiable and understandable understand understand- able concern of the American people for fora a greater allocation of our national resources resources resources re re- re- re sources to domestic and welfare needs needs- and given the public repugnance to the Vietnam involvement and the unfair of lash back against the military military mili mili- tary there is a desperate need for a wider public understanding not only that the balance of military power is shifting shirting against the United States not only that it is Ls the first duty of the national government government govern govern- ment to provide for the common de defense defense de- de of our country but as well that our domestic and welfare priorities mean nothing if we grow so militarily inferior that the enemy takes over In our free democracy where democracy where I dissent is almost unlimited even in its extreme forms of violence as contrasted to the complete intolerance of dissent in a totalitarian totalitarian total total- regime the ultimate defense posture is determined by the will of the people But the will of the people is shaped by what they know and what information information in in- formation they have As the President has said If we are less strong than necessary there willbe willbe will willbe be no domestic society to look after Military weakness and national insecurity ity literally invite diplomatic blackmail and the strategy of terror from the Soviet Union Military weakness and national insecurity increase the chances of over over- confidence and miscalculation by the enemy to trigger war These are not just the views of a senatorial hawk or war monger They are the warnings that have also been eloquently expressed by the Blue Ribbon Defense Panel composed of outstanding outstanding out out- standing private citizens There is a a desperate need to remind the American people of the continuous external pressures exerted against our nation and people There is a desperate need to remind the American people that the road to peace has never been through appeasement unilateral disarmament negotiation from weakness or scaling down to parity to prove sincerity History is precisely to the contrary There isa Is is a desperate need to remind the American people that among the great nations only the strong survive and that weakness on our part in military capability ity and national will would be the greatest greatest great great- est cst threat to the peace of the world The most serious question is the will of the American people It is my opinion that the only reason for any doubt in that will is the fact that the serious situation has not been gotten across to the American Amer ican scan people I have no doubt about their will if they know and r realize how serious the situation is SENATOR MARGARET CHASE SMITH |