Last Friday morning, I got into a discussion about whether or not the Crusader is a necessary
weapon system for the U.S. Army. This tells you how much fun my life is: On a beautiful spring morning
you might well have been in a discussion about what you are (a) purchasing, or (b) expecting for Mothers' Day.
In Your Nation's Capital we have discussions about the politics of weapons systems.
Here's the issue in a nutshell: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has ordered the cancellation of
the Crusader. Nevertheless, buried in the $383 Billion Defense Authorization bill passed by the House early Friday morning, was $475 million - nearly half a billion - in funds to continue the development of the Crusader.
The Crusader, (which is being built by United Defense Industries) is a system of three parts:
A self-propelled 155 mm howitzer, an armored re-supply vehicle, and a re-supply module.
The Crusader web page describes the three pieces of the system as weighing a total of 114 TONS,
because it is a totally armored system.
Its principal strength - armor - is, in the current environment, its principal weakness - it is too heavy
for a military which is working toward being extremely transportable, very quickly.
By the way, also on the Crusader web page is a "Crusader Store." One of the items for sale with
the Crusader logo is: "Team Crusader Boxer Shorts." 100% cotton. Sixteen bucks.
Memo to United Defense: Lose the boxers. Selling weapons and undies on the same page is not a
good marketing strategy. Unless you're Wal-Mart.
Some context: In the earliest days of the Bush 43 Administration, Secretary Rumsfeld was given
the assignment to modernize the U.S. military - The Rumsfeld Overhaul.
We have competing services, competing weapons platforms, competing Generals and Admirals, and a
management infrastructure which makes the word "byzantine" wholly inadequate.
According to some experts the Crusader hit the drawing boards in the mid-80's. The first units
are to be delivered in about 2007. Here's a little secret for those of you who are planning to bid on
major weapons systems: Everyone knows that the lead times are measured in decades. Everyone knows that
technology will change from the time a system was first formulated to the time it is phased out.
The two words which bring the most joy to the heart of Corporate Comptrollers are not "Bid Won,"
they are "Change Order." Bid low. You'll make it back on the change orders.
The Crusader was conceived as the principal weapon to be used in a European war against - Soviet
Tanks.
United Defense Industries lists operations in nine states. Those states have U.S. Senators who
are just about evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
Like most modern weapons systems there are a bunch of sub-contractors. The Crusader has some 38
other companies participating in this. Many are very large companies in their own right and, so, have operations in many other states.
The contractors and sub-contractors will have their Washington lobbyists on The Hill making certain each and every Representative and Senator knows what's at stake. And don't think for a second that the union lobbyists won't be making the rounds side-by-side.
It is a well-known axiom that Generals are always fighting the last war. The question which will have to be answered by Congress is: Should scarce funds be spent for a weapon designed to be used against a country that doesn't even exist any more?
The Rumsfeld Overhaul will succeed because when it comes to the direction of America's defense, the Generals, the Admirals, the Pentagon civilian managers, their allies on The Hill, and the contractors together don't add up to the support the public has for just two people: Don Rumsfeld and George W. Bush.
On the Secret Decoder Ring page today: A picture of the Mullmeister on MSNBC over the weekend showing one of the dirty little secrets of American Punditry, a great photo of the Crusader, and a photo of the boxers.
If you are working at a lobbying firm, a government affairs office, a coalition, or a PAC you should take a
look at this page to see how advertising in Mullings might serve your organization very well:
� 
