The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-04-19
The War at the Pentagon

between Cno generals ana Cne Score
tary of Defense over the Tx ma,
momentarily fade from the headline,
as both sides regroup their forces
But the War at the Pentagon is JUS
beginning.
How and when hostilities are re-
sumed rests on behind-the-scenes de.
velopments. But there is little doubt
that certain high-ranking congress.
sional Democrats, who are allied with
the Pentagon brass, have decided
that Robert S. Mcnamara must be
forced out of office.
The current Juror brings to mind
President Eisenhower's Farewell
Address" in which he warned that
''we must be on guard against the
acquisition of power "by the mill
tary-industriai complex. Perhaps
Secretary Mcnamara is beginning
to share this view.
Mr.. Mcnamara recognizes he is in
for the fight of his life as both he
and his opponents seek to broaden
the issues. Mcnamara has chosen to
open up the question of waste, in
efficiency and duplication in Penta-
gon research, development and pro-
curement policies.
His opponents are quietly planting
doubts as to McNamara's competency
in making military judgments visa
Wis the Joint Chiefs of Staff and
others. There is likely also to be
stepped up criticism of McNamara's
foreign policy judgments.
For example, what are the effects
of our new policies on withdrawing
missiles from Turkey, Italy and else
where? Do these governments now
feel that America is withdrawing"
it's protective umbrella? Are they
satisfied with the Polaris as SUBJ
stitute?
This is no war of venality, how
ever, for on both sides in the Penta-
gon we find intelligent and dedicated
men. Actually it is unfair and in
accurate to make it appear as merely
a conflict between civilians and
the military. There is nothing
monolithic about either side. There
are differences of opinion within |
each group.
Leaving aside for the moment those
lawmakers who have big defense
contractors within their states, the
fact is that Mcnamara and his critics
view Pentagon developments from en-
tirely different perspectives.
Gen. Maxwell Taylor and those
aligned with the Joint Chiefs believe
that nothing must be spared in pre-
pairing ourselves for the worst kind
Of war. They want conventional
weapons and atomic weapons.
They are trained to "think about
The unthinkable'', to go "all-out".
There is no doubt that many sharp
businessmen have over-sold the Pent-
agon on all sorts of useless tools,
parts and even weapons, because the
military mans perspective opens the
way for such abuses.
Mcnamara, on the other hand, APP
sees the tremendous waste
'iiO SOobllucSS VI IClClloC ACP POI oiiASAiS
operations as producing facilitating
Effects from the very top of the mill
airy hierarchy all the way down to
he lowest-ranking foot soldier. 1t
here is not tightly-run, efficient
peration, according to those who
hare his views, the results will be
ven more costly in money and men
\ wartime than they are in peace
ime.
A S this Pentagon controversy
Tarms up there are bound to be ex-
esses on both sides, with charges OF
aid faith and the sort of personality |
Onflicts that make big news. l
Already there have been stories
lat Mcnamara burst into tears dur
lg one closed session before Con- C
ressional committee. That story ap- $
arently was meant to remind the {
ublic of the crack-up of the late l.
ames Forrestal. Mcnamara was S
1gry, but nothing happened that n
,nfirmed the rurnors that leaked I
ON the committee room. Leaking I
lch story was dirty pool. Il
The evidence is, of course, not
ret all in. But what seems clear up
- = M-N.mara is