Those who would lop sizable amounts from the record defense spending proposed in President Reagan’s 1983 budget obviously are in for a fight. Sen. Barry Goldwater, Arizona Republican member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee. made this clear in a statement in tlte Congressional Record. ‘ilt is shocking and disturbing to hear the many voices around the country calling for drastic cuts in our defense budget.” said the redoubtable Arizonan. Referring to testimony in tactical warfare hearings beiiigb completed by his su committee, Goldwater declared: “I can assure my colleagues and every interested person in this country that there is waste in the defense budget. just as in any budget of any size. However, I can see no way that sizable cuts can be made in the defense budget without harmful effects to our nation.” The conservative senator asserted that “the Soviets are fast getting into a position of military superiority where they can, in effect, blackmail us at any time they care to.” Explaining that rather shocking staement, he said that currently the USSR “outnumbers us in tanks at a ratio of about 5 to 1; aircraft, 5 to l; and in manpower, well over 5 to 1f’ The Soviets also are fast approaching superiority on the seas. Goldwater said “Their superiority in almost any category of military weaponry is frightening. And even more dangerous. is their growing ability in space while we seem to be going the other way.” The economic problems the Defense Department has in substantially strengthening military might comes in focus in this example the senator cited: “The U.S. is buying just enought aircraft in this year’s budget to take care of natural losses.” The Arizonan’s conclusion was that while his subcommittee is working on cuts in several areas. “I must be frank and say that any reductions we make will be very, very small.” Thos the battle lines are drawn. so zo speak. It becomes clear that any major defense deletions to cut the projected budget deficit will face strong opposition it would be great if all major powers could get together on arms reduction but until that happens it would be folly to cut back unilaterally or fail to add strength demanded by the times. With the massive Soviet buildup there seems no alternative to substantially boosting our defensefl spending In turn. the Defense Department owes it to the taxpayers to rctluce waste and get the most protection for dollars iam-str-rl I