LAIRD AT PRESS CONFERENCE SAYING MUCH OF THE ABOVE.




Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: DEFENSE SECRETARY MELVIN LAIRD AXXX SAID ON HIS RETURN FROM A FIVE DAY TRIP TO SOURXXX SOUTH VIETNAM ON MONDAY THAT U.S. BOMBING MISSIONS THERE WOULD BE REDUCED BUT WOULD CONTINUE AS LONG AS NEEDED. +WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE FURTHER REDUCTIONS, +MR. LAIRD SAID IN CITING PROGRAMS TO TRAIN MORE SOUTH VIETNAMESE PILOTS. BUT HE AXXX SAID THE UNITED STATES +WILL USE AIR POWER AS LONG AS IT'S NEEDED AND NECESSARY.+ MR. LAIRD THUS INDICATED HE WAS NOT SWAYED VX BY WAR CRITICS WHO HAVE BEEN FOCUSING THEIR CRITICISM ON U.S. AERIAL BOMBING NOW THAT GROUND TROOP WITHDRAWAL HAVE BEEN SPEEDED MR. LAIRD WILL REPORT SOON TO PRESIDENT NIXON ON HIS TRIP.