General Colin Powell , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , made his first major commentary Friday on the Pentagon budget battle , warning against a return to the post- Vietnam and World War II reductions . He said , " I have been reminded time and again " this is still a dangerous world and you 'd better be ready to respond if someone challenges your interests . ``So even as we reduce, we must maintain our ability to deter and defend,'' " Adding that the Soviet Union will remain a superpower into the next century , he warned , " not to allow a decline in defense spending with a decline in the nation 's national defense needs to interfere with the enduring realities we face . "
General Colin Powell , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , made his first major commentary Friday on the Pentagon budget battle , warning against a return to the post- Vietnam and World War II reductions . He said , " I have been reminded time and again " this is still a dangerous world and you 'd better be ready to respond if someone challenges your interests . " Adding that the Soviet Union will remain a superpower into the next century , he warned , " not to allow a decline in defense spending with a decline in the nation 's national defense needs to interfere with the enduring realities we face . "