Tomorrow,, Nov. 15, the George Washington, our Navy's first ballistic missile
submarine, will be deployed with its battery of 16 Polaris missiles.
. That statement was made by Adm. Arleigh A. Burke, Chief of Naval Operations,
in a San Diego speech recently.
He saidthe deployment of the George Washington "will be one of the most sig
nificant events in the history of warfare," and certainly one of the most sign
ificant in naval war technology.
In the words . of Adm. Burke: "With this powerful ship on station in fully
operational status, (sixteen missiles, each far more powerful than the first
atomic bombs, each ready to respond instantly or with deliberation) (it) will
be poised to retaliate with pin-point acuracy on any aggressor who dares to lau
nch a nuclear attack."
He said the United States will be insured of retaliatory strength that "can
survive any surprise attack."
This weapons system, he said, combined with our mobile attack carrier strik
ing forces, with our ballistic missiles at home and deployed abroad, with our
land based bombers, furnishes our nation with a retaliatory "mix that would
. spell national suicide" to any aggressor who risks general nuclear war.
"We know this," he said, "our allies knowit, and what is most important, the
•communists know it. That is why they will never dare launch a general nuclear
attack." *
He cautioned, however, that this does not mean we can become over-confident
or complacent.,
"But it does mean," he said, "that we can and that we must devote more of our
thoughts and energies to other areas."
"It is up to us to meet the challenge of communism., • .with the same dynamic,
virile enthusiasm, with the same physical, moral and spiritual strength that
created and preserved the freedom we enjoy today," pp(^