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November 6, 2002, 9:00 a.m. Dodging Pork Missiles Bush & Rumsfeld are defending the U.S. — and its taxpayers.

recently had the honor of meeting with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to discuss the administration's plans for "military transformation." This is the term generally applied to the concept of modernizing our military for the next-generation battlefield, but doing so in a fiscally sound manner that keeps the best interests of the American taxpayer in mind.

To achieve this end will require the secretary to make some very unpopular decisions on currently proposed weapons systems, troop levels, and budgetary priorities. As everyone knows, there are many powerful constituencies that benefit from defense spending and these constituencies exert great pressure on an administration to keep the dollars flowing.

Many past administrations have faltered under such pressure after making similar pledges. But to date it appears that the president and his secretary of defense are serious about their undertaking and are willing to fight for it.

The cancellation of the Crusader artillery system is a prominent example of their tenacity and courage. While the Crusader was an improvement upon the current Paladin artillery system, Secretary Rumsfeld did not believe it was financially sound to spend billions upon billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars on a system that did not represent a "transformational" step in fire support.

Whatever one's personal opinion about the need for the Crusader system, everyone can agree that canceling such a high-profile weapons system — one that represented so much money to so many powerful interests — displayed a real determination to actually take on the "system."

While most people recognize the future military benefits of pursuing this policy — as tomorrow's soldiers will be fighting with the best and most advanced weapons systems — there are also two more immediate benefits to this policy as well.

First, the administration understands that taxpayer wallets don't contain blank checks that will allow them to spend as much as they please. While almost all Americans are willing to sacrifice for the defense of our country, we only have so much to give — especially with a sluggish economy. Therefore, the administration simply cannot afford to buy-off current defense contractors while funding the next generation of weapons systems. To do so would be a fiscal disaster for taxpayers. So instead, Rumsfeld and his lieutenants have taken on the thankless task of implementing spending priorities — to the benefit of all taxpayers.

Furthermore, this policy will benefit those currently serving in our armed forces. Every dime diverted from an unneeded weapons system or pork-barrel spending can be used in the fight against terrorism and any eventual conflict with Iraq. These are funds that our military desperately needs to defend our citizens and our national interests in the safest manner possible. President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld have put the best interests of our fighting men before parochial political gains.

The U.S. Congress, however, is not quite as worthy of praise. They recently passed a defense appropriations bill that was loaded with non-defense spending in order to serve their parochial political needs. Instead of putting America's soldiers and taxpayers first, many lawmakers put their own interests first by larding the military-spending bill with millions upon millions of non-defense spending.

See if you can determine the military benefit of any of this spending:

— $1.3 billion for environmental restoration.

— $7 million for HIV prevention in Africa.

— $150 million for the Army breast-cancer research program.

— $85 million for the Army prostate-cancer research program.

— $19 million for international sporting competitions.

— $3 million for aid for children with disabilities.

— $1 million for math-teacher leadership.

— $4.5 million for a cancer research center.

— $2.6 million for the Pacific Rim Corrosion Project.

— $2 million for the Center for Geo-Sciences.

While some of these programs may arguably be worthy of funding, none of them can be said to be directly related to the defense of our country or the safety of our soldiers on the modern battlefield.

Such pork-barrel spending wastes billions of taxpayer dollars and undermines the combat effectiveness of our military. It can no longer be tolerated, and those members of Congress who continue to tack on such non-germane bacon — especially after September 11 — should be held accountable.

In the meantime, Americans should do everything they can to support President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld in their effort to defend America and its taxpayers.

— Eric V. Schlecht is director of congressional relations for the National Taxpayers Union.