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Civilian deputy resigns over Crusader flap

by Joe Burlas

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 10, 2002) -- The Army released May 10 the findings of a recent Army Inspector General investigation into the unauthorized release of a draft talking-points paper which defended the retention of the Crusader howitzer development program in the Army budget.

The unapproved Crusader talking-points paper that was distributed to certain Members of Congress and their staffs on May 1 without the knowledge or approval of the Secretary of the Army or the Chief, Office of Congressional Legislative Liaison contained inflammatory and misleading talking points.

Commenting on the incident and the report, Secretary White said, "I am personally and professionally disturbed by the preparation and distribution of these so-called talking-points that I find -- frankly -- offensive and insulting to the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense. I have made clear within the Army that this action was repugnant and contrary to the interests of our troops and country."

Investigators found that OCLL lacked procedures to ensure talking-point documents were appropriately staffed and approved prior to release. Army Secretary Thomas E. White has directed that corrective measures be developed and put in place, officials said.

Kenneth A. Steadman, principal deputy of the Office of Congressional Legislative Liaison, has accepted responsibility for the unauthorized release and submitted his resignation. His resignation has been accepted.

Army leaders briefed Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on the IG findings May 8 just a few hours after Rumsfeld had told reporters at a Pentagon press briefing the Crusader program was officially terminated.

The Army, through OCLL, often provides Congress talking point papers that support or clarify programs funded in the budget. The Department of Defense budget for fiscal year 2003, submitted to Congress by the president in February, contained funding for the Crusader program.

"I was told -- well, let's be very, very clear -- I was told yesterday [May 7] at 1:30 in the afternoon what the decision was on Crusader," White said. "Up until that time, the Army, as all the services do, worked very hard to support the president's budget, and the president's budget submission included support of the Crusader program. Now the decision has been made, and the Army is moving out to execute that decision."

The Crusader was to have been the replacement for the M109A6 Paladin 155 mm self-propelled howitzer.

A presidential amendment to his proposed budget is forthcoming that will redirect Crusader funding to other Army Transformation programs, said Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz.

"This decision is not about killing a bad system," Wolfowitz said. "This decision is about canceling a system originally designed for a different strategic context, to make room for more promising technologies that offer greater payoffs and are more consistent with the Army's overall transformation effort."