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4 NATIONAL AVIATION GOALS-PROJECT HORIZON

The noncombat airplane also makes a major contribution to national security. Its speed and flexibility give it military capabilities for the transport of people and goods so great that it would be unrealistic to formulate goals which did not call for even greater noncombat aviation participation in our national security effort. 
Questions of national security have lately been complicated by the problems of protracted East-West conflict and competition in the political, sociological, technological, and economic arenas. Aviation's roles in these conflicts must be considered as well as in combat or potential combat situations. 
Consequently, the contribution so of civil aviation to our national defense posture go well beyond those of a skilled manpower pool and emergency airlift. Aviation relates as well to our commitments and obligations to our allies and to the technological development and economic growth of the emerging economies. 
The President has said, in his State of the Union Message, "Our greatest challenge is still the world that lies beyond the cold war *** open and peaceful competition - for prestige, for markets, for scientific achievements, even for men's minds ***. We must improve our economic tools. Our role is essential and unavoidable in the construction of a sound and expanding economy for the entire non-Communist world, helping other nations build the strength to meet their own problems, to satisfy their own aspirations - to surmount their own dangers." 
These pronouncement do not advocate leadership for the sake of leading but rather as an affirmative tool of democratic persuasion. Nations now devoted to our way of life must remain so committed. The uncommitted nations are yet to be persuaded. 
What we give is less important than what we are, what we do, what we stand for. Noble principles must be reflected in concrete achievement. To wish to be first and best is not enough. We are first and best in aviation today. We must remain so. In this effort, our competitive system imposes both obstacles to be overcome and advantages to be exploited.