American Notes DEFENSE

PUT THE B-2 ON THE SKIDS

GIVE THE MONEY TO THE KIDS

House Armed Services Committee chairman Les Aspin did not quote that bumper- sticker slogan last week, but he made the same point. Reversing his previous support for the Stealth bomber, Aspin urged a halt in future production for two main reasons: 1) the virtually undetectable plane's costs are soaring ($63 billion for 75 planes), and 2) the ebbing of the Soviet threat has left the bomber without a clear-cut mission. Says Aspin: "Much has happened in the past year, but nothing that has happened has improved the case for the B-2."

The House is likely to agree with Aspin, but the Senate's response is unpredictable. Armed Services Committee chairman Sam Nunn admits that the Stealth is in worse trouble than ever: "Chairman Aspin's decision will make the fight to preserve the B-2 an uphill battle." The fight could turn on economics. Some experts predict that killing the B-2 would mean the demise of its builder, the Northrop Corp., and the loss of at least 12,000 jobs.