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Skelton Urges Americans to Say 'Thank You' to the Sea Services

By OTTO KREISHER, Special Correspondent

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said today he worries that the American public does not appreciate the value of the sea services, and urged his audience at the Sea-Air-Space luncheon March 18 to help spread the word on their contributions to the nation's security and economy. The sea lanes, so important to the global economy, are safe because of the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, he said.

Skelton also expressed his concern that the U.S. land forces, the Army and Marine Corps, are "stretched" by the continuous combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. "They are not hollow," he said, using the term applied to the post-Vietnam Army, "they are the best in the world. But they are stretched." The readiness to respond to another crisis is not there, he said.

The chairman also worried about the failure of NATO to meet its commitments for forces in Afghanistan and for the restrictions, or "caveats," many of the European allies impose on the use of their forces. "We need to have success in Afghanistan," Skelton said.

Skelton opened his speech by noting the constitutional charge for Congress to raise an Army and maintain a Navy and pointing out the changes the lawmakers have required during his years in the House. He specifically cited the Goldwater-Nichols Act, which forced greater jointness and gave more authority to the combat commanders in the field and creation of the Special Operations Command. He pointed out that Congress, led by his committee, directed the Defense Department to conduct a "roles and missions" study so all the services were clear on what their duties were in the changing national security situation. That report is due to Congress this year.

Skelton ended his talk by urging the Navy League audience to reach out to the young men and women now serving in uniform, to thank them for their service. He predicted these service members would be the next "Greatest Generation," following their predecessors who won World War II and became local, state and national leaders.