Washington, D.C., September 13, 2000 -- The Honorable F.
Whitten Peters, Secretary of the Air Force, told attendees at
the Air Force Association (AFA) National Convention today that
public debate on military readiness is good, but warned attendees
not to become polarized along political lines.
The Air Force has seen a 40 percent drawdown since the end of
the Cold War. Along with the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the
Air Force is faced with hard choices of replacing aging aircraft
and maintaining needed facilities while holding the line on
readiness.
“Military readiness is not a Democratic issue, nor is it a
Republican issue, it’s an American issue,” Peters said.
Peters spoke during a luncheon in his honor at the Marriott
Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. In a wide-ranging address
before AFA delegates, guests and convention attendees, Peters
noted that the Air Force is the world’s preeminent aerospace power.
“The Air Force prepared to fly, fight, and win against any adversary,”
he said.
“If you ask me today whether the Air Force is ready, I can
answer unequivocally, yes,” Peters said. He predicted that in
the future forces from all the services would have to be
expeditionary to respond to the national interests.
“We must perfect the Expeditionary Aerospace Force model.
Expeditionary operations will be vital to the way we do business,”
Peter added. While thanking the audience for their support, Peters
urged them to continue a well-informed dialogue on military
issues.
The Air Force Association is comprised of 150,000 members
nation-wide. Its annual national convention and aerospace
technology exposition is a key forum for the advocacy of a
strong Air Force and National Defense.
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CONTACT: Napoleon Byars, Director for Policy &
Communications
(703) 247-5850, Nbyars@afa.org
