[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            POSSIBLE MAGIC RESULTS OF FUNDING CRISIS IN DOD

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                          HON. JAMES M. INHOFE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. Speaker, as you may know, the Department of the Air 
Force is conducting article 32 hearings for the personnel involved in 
the accidental shoot-down of two U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters while 
enforcing the northern no-fly zone over Iraq. During these proceedings, 
a military equivalent of a grand jury hearing, five AWACS crew members 
will be charged with dereliction of duty and an F-15 pilot has been 
charged with 26 counts of negligent homicide.
  An internal Department of Defense investigation into this friendly-
fire accident was concluded on May 27, 1994. In reviewing this report 
it is clear to me that mistakes were made in carrying out the 
objectives that day under Operation Provide Comfort. However, the 
tragic incident in Iraq points to a mounting problem that is not 
service specific, but applies to the Department of Defense as a whole. 
It is, of course, inadequate funding and its resulting consequences. 
This funding crisis has led to less training, longer missions, greater 
personnel strains, and other negative results.
  The DOD report stated that:

       The ATO (Air Tasking Order) and its accompanying flow sheet 
     give individual crew members the information needed for their 
     particular missions, and provide them with awareness of other 
     aircraft scheduled to be in the area at the same time.

  It is interesting to note that detailed information on Black Hawk 
helicopter flights in the area was not included in the ATO. Moreover, 
the report concludes that the helicopter crew members were apparently 
not aware of the correct transponder codes--codes used to identify 
friendly aircraft--for use within the area.
  A definite cause for the unsuccessful electronic identification of 
the two Black Hawks could not be found. However, the report concluded 
that the following were likely:

       Both F-15 pilots may have selected the incorrect 
     interrogation mode; both F-15 Air to Air interrogators may 
     have incorrectly processed the Black Hawks' transponder 
     signals; both helicopter IFF (identification friend or foe) 
     transponders may have been loaded incorrectly or there may 
     have been garbling of the friendly Black Hawks IFF responses, 
     produced by two helicopters using the same code in close 
     proximity to each other.

  Lastly, the investigation report stated that, ``neither F-15 pilot 
had received recent, adequate visual recognition training.'' What could 
be more basic than this? Clearly, it is not the responsibility of the 
pilots to see that they receive the best possible training available. 
Unless, of course, the services start holding its members accountable 
for accidents that are as much their responsibility as the individuals 
involved.
  Also of importance are the recent remarks to Defense Secretary 
William Perry made by Brig. Gen. John Dallager, commander of a fighter 
wing in Germany. (Daily Oklahoman Wednesday, October 5) In his 
discussions with the Secretary he detailed the strains of military 
life, specifically citing that his pilots are overworked, undertrained, 
and consequently military readiness is suffering.
  My reason for citing this report and General Dallager comments is not 
to interfere with the prosecution of the hearings, but to only point 
out that this information confirms my fear that President Clinton, with 
the help of liberal Members of Congress, are well on their way to 
jeopardizing the U.S. military capability. As the funding for the DOD 
continues to decrease, unfortunate incidents like the Black Hawk 
helicopter shoot-down will continue to occur.

  We should not blame our men and women in uniform solely for the 
mistakes that will undoubtedly continue to occur if we don't reverse 
this alarming trend in funding. Instead, we should praise these brave 
men and women for serving their country at a time when our Commander in 
Chief seeks to transform their missions from the conduct of war, to the 
conduct of peacekeeping, peacemaking, and nation building.
  In closing, as I mentioned earlier mistakes were made by the AWACS 
crew and the F-15 pilot. A tragedy occurred. No one mourns the loss of 
life of the Black Hawk's crews more than I. Still, certain questions 
must be answered. What mistakes were there in training? How long had 
the crew been away from home? What procedural deficiencies were there 
that could have averted this tragedy? Has the military been forced to 
take too many shortcuts in these areas because of the Clinton military 
reductions?
  The men and women of our Armed Forces must know that when they are 
solely responsible for gross negligence there will be consequences. 
They must also know that when the system is to blame, the military will 
not use them as scapegoats. The morale of our entire Armed Forces 
depends on this.

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