American businesses owe their continuing prosperity to the U.S. military, Defense Secretary William Cohen told Microsoft workers in Seattle on Thursday.
"We must be mindful that the prosperity derived from our vibrant world economy, the stability which allows vigorous trade, and the economic and intellectual freedom that enables innovation would simply be impossible without the persuasiveness of our ideals, the persistence of our diplomacy and the power, actions and sacrifices of the U.S. military," Cohen said.
The speech was part of Cohen's continuing effort to drum up public support for the military-and for military budget increases. Last month, Cohen asked the Illinois State Legislature to support Defense budget increases for military pay and weapons procurement.
Cohen stressed the same points to the Microsoft audience, saying that military personnel need to be better compensated for the sacrifices they make. He also said the country needs to invest in military technology advances to stay ahead of other nations-and needs to close bases to come up with money to fund modernization.
He also drew a parallel between the Defense Department and America's information technology industry, noting that both are considered world-class in their fields.
"We represent the two preeminent pillars of American prestige and talent," Cohen said to the workers gathered in an auditorium on Microsoft's Redmond, Wash. campus.
Cohen also noted that the Defense Department is attempting to improve its technology base as part of its business reform initiative. Doing so will improve DoD's investment of taxpayer dollars, Cohen said.
"We're trying to become a paperless society," Cohen said. "We're trying to come into the digital age. We are trying to reform the entire way in which we do business, as compared to what it was in the 20th century. We owe that to you as taxpayers. And so the more money that we can save through more efficiency, then the more we can invest in the future."
The Clinton Administration's fiscal 2000 budget proposal included $112 billion in increased Defense spending through 2005.
Pentagon spokesman Capt. Mike Doubleday said that Cohen will travel to other parts of the country this year, speaking in "other venues that are probably non-traditional for a Secretary of Defense to speak in."
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