National Affairs: Rockets' Red Glare

It was fitting enough, in the season for the celebration of the nation's independence, that the Congress should cast its eyes and votes on defense appropriations for the coming year. At the same time it was not too surprising that outspoken Defense Secretary Charlie Wilson should set off the firecrackers too soon−by labeling as "phony" the attempt of the Democratic majority to add an extra $1.1 billion to the Air Force budget (TIME, July 2). Result: the fireworks zoomed, whistled, crackled and spun through Capitol Hill's legislative corridors last week.

Nothing would erase Charlie Wilson's slur on the honor of the...

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