SHOWDOWN ON GUARD BEGINS IN U.S. SENATE

The U.S. Senate begins hearings this week on a budget proposal that would severely hamper Missouri's Army National Guard. Under the proposal, 29 Missouri communities would lose all or part of their Guard units. The proposal hits close to home. Particularly hard hit would be Southeast Missouri, which would lose all of its Guard units.

Affected units are located in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Charleston, Farmington, Fredericktown, Perryville, Portageville, and Sikeston. The economic loss to Missouri communities would exceed $28 million.

The proposed cutbacks in Missouri would mean the loss of 3,100 guardsmen and 207 federal positions. Missouri is not alone in the reductions. The Department of Defense wants to cut the 457,000 guardsmen to a little over 300,000 nationwide to help reduce the defense budget.

Yes, our national budget is in a mess, with the deficit soaring sky high. But we agree with Sen. Christopher Bond that crippling Missouri's National Guard just doesn't make sense especially in light of its exemplary role in the recent Desert Storm operation.

Aside from the economic loss, the Guard plays an integral role in protecting Missourians in times of emergency. The Guard has proven itself as a cost effective and efficient military force for Missouri. Besides, the Guard represents only 10 percent of the Pentagon defense budget.

Fortunately, Sen. Bond is has been an outspoken advocate for the Guard in Congress. He feels confident that the votes have been secured to save the Guard from reductions in 1992. As a result, more modest reductions may be in store this year. We hope that comes to pass, and praise the senator for his leadership in this matter.

The Missouri Guard should do its fair share in cutting costs. But these cuts were decided in the nation's capital, without consultation of Missouri's adjutant general. That doesn't make sense. Our Guard deserves reasonable input into its own reductions. No doubt any cuts proposed by Missouri would be more spread out around the state, instead of wiping out all of Southeast Missouri's units.

In Operation Desert Storm, the U.S. was able to place National Guard units on the battlefield for about one-third of the cost of active Army units. Performance of these reserve officers was praised from the President on down. Now, it hardly seems fair to follow that praise with these arbitrary reductions.

A continued grassroots support for the Guard will be important in the coming months. The Guard is important to Missouri, particularly Southeast Missouri. Without them, state emergencies could become a real disaster.