Fewer base closures predicted

Long Beach Press Telegram

Fewer base closures predicted

Rumsfeld says 10%-12% cut more likely than 20%-25%.
By Robert Burns
AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON -- Far fewer military bases are likely to be closed and realigned than originally foreseen, in part because of the planned shift of tens of thousands of troops from bases in Asia and Europe to the United States, according to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Rumsfeld said surplus base capacity is not as great as earlier estimated.

(snip)

The Pentagon wants to close some bases to save money over the long run, and base realignments are aimed at advancing the ability of the military services to operate and train together.

States and cities are trying to avoid closures by making the case that their bases are crucial for national security. They have hired high-powered lobbyists with Washington connections and tried to make their facilities more resistant to closure.

The Pentagon declined to release a transcript of Rumsfeld's remarks to the editorial writers until their editorials have been published. Two of the writers confirmed in telephone interviews Friday that Rumsfeld made the statement that the reduction in base capacity would be less than half the 20 to 25 percent range.

http://www.presstelegram.com/Stories/0,1413,204~21474~2855995,00.html#

the congress critters, to make them vote for their legislation. Trade offs and compromise - we won't close your base if you support the bankruptcy reform bill, if you support .....

Never any intention to close a lot of bases, their corporate creeps that have the piratized contracts to operate the cafeterias and the commissaries and the base exchanges would lose money.

It is one big friggin scam! They are all evil liars and fools! :mad:

But it isnt for a lack of trying. My wife is a store director for Deca (Great Lakes Navy Base) and thinks that this might be one fight that Rummy will lose.

the troops home, because building bases for them there (PNAC) won't work out. They will be suicide bombed into smithereens.This might be a good thing.

But, it's probably that they "caved" when the Repugs started screaming "No base closing in my town!" and threatened them.

If we got out of Iraq.

They don't seem to mind at all. :bored: