Ford Press Releases, January - April 1966: 12130682

REP. FORD STATEMENT - APRIL 21 j 1966
In the course of Mr. McMama~a'a new' conference to discredit his critics--who
have never supposed or suggested that any of hi• miotakes were deliberate or
dishonorable--the Secretary found himself partially confirming our concern. He
admitted that the Air Force had to buy back 750-pound bombs which had originally
cost u. s. taxpayers $330 apiece, were sold as surplus to a West German fertilizer
firm two years ago for $1.70 apiece, and have now been recovered for $21 apiece~
If this is good management, I am mistaken about the meaning of the word. If there
was no bomb shortage, was this transaction really necessary?
Mr. McNamara also denied there is any shipping shortage affecting Vietnam, Yet
only last Monday there were reliable reports--one headlined "U. S. Again Short Of
Viet Ships" from the April 18 Journal of Commerce--that the government is trying to
get 20 or more additional vessels from private shipping compenies. It is a known
fact that ships have been stacked up for weeks as far away as Manila waiting to
unload their Vietnam cargoes. Mr. McNamara cites figures on Post Exchange supplies
delivered to Saigon in answer to allegations that our airmen haven't enough bombs.
He says there is no ship shortage, only shortages of dock facilities~ I am
not interested in playing word games, nor am I interested in playing politics with
this serious situation. I am only i&terested·-snd I th!nk every member of the
House and Senate, Democ~ats aud Republicans, is also i~terested--in seeing that the
billions for defense we have unhesitatingly voted is well and wisely spent and that
every American sent 10,000 miles frem home is given all the support and supplies he
needs to protect himself, d&ecnd all of us, and bring the war to a swift and
satisfactory end.
There h&s never been any doubt in m, mind that every one o£ my colleagues in
the House and Senate, regardleas of party, agrees completely on this point. I am
proud to see such distinguished Americans and distingui.shed Democrats as Senator
Stennis say, as he did on a national telev1sion network last Sunday, that his
Preparedness Subcommittee has found evidet:ce of ''mismanagement" in Pentagon planmng
for the war. I ~ encouraged to hear that Mr. McNamara conceded before the
Fulbright co::nmittee that we have some ''temporary dislocations of supplies" in South
Vietnam because that means th&t he is going to do something about it. I am informed
that he sent his chief of Air Force l~giedcs to Saigcn to itri72Stigate what he
cells the :-.. ~n-ex.7:.atent bomb s~.oxtag~a and to eliminate them. That's what we want.
But I ~ deet<:.y conce.:-ned that Mr. Me~;<~ara, in his Seneca test.iuony yeste;:d.ay,
brushed oH the concerr, of millions ,z, patt'iotic Americans a!l "all t'his baioney."
t share thic concern, &td I shall CfYu'ti.:.'..;.~ to express :'~ot. I think such able membere
of Cong:etJa as Senator Stenn~.. s, Chal~ill.iU C.:.:r.1ill&t~ of t~1e House Merchant Marine
(MO!~Z)