150 U.S. military bases targeted for closure by Pentagon The Pentagon will propose shutting more than 150 military installations from Maine to Hawaii, including 33 major bases, The Associated Press learned today, triggering the first round of base closures in a decade and an intense struggle by communities to save their facilities. The 147th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard will remain at Houston's Ellington Field. ... Rumsfeld's plan calls for a massive shift of U.S. forces that would result in a net loss of 29,005 military and civilian jobs at domestic installations. Overall, he proposes pulling 218,570 military and civilian positions out of some U.S. bases while adding 189,565 positions to others, according to documents obtained by The AP. The closures and downsizings would occur over six years starting in 2006. W is good for the economy? At least he spared Ellingston ... Among the major closures were Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, which would lose more than 2,700 jobs, the Naval Station in Ingleside, Texas, costing more than 2,100 jobs, and Fort McPherson in Georgia, costing nearly 4,200 jobs. ... One major closure Rumsfeld seeks is Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, home to 29 B-1B bombers, half the nation's fleet of the aircraft, and the state's second largest employer. .. President Bush's home state wasn't immune from the chopping block. Texas is slated to lose 15 facilities. In addition to Naval Station Ingleside, the Red River Army Depot and several Reserve and Guard installations are on the hit list. ... For years, the military has operated more bases than it needs for the 1.4 million troops on active duty. Congress has refused to authorize a new round of base closings since 1995 but reluctantly signed off on the idea last year after President Bush threatened to veto an entire spending bill. So much for the idea that wars are good for the economy. Long protracted wars cause base closures and kill the local economies of the cities where the closures occur [size=+1]Lawmakers say it is unwise to close bases while U.S. troops are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the Pentagon argues that the timing is perfect to enlist cost-cutting measures given pressures from the ballooning federal deficit and to reshuffle the stateside network of bases while it reshapes the entire military.[/size=+1] Ballooning deficit? And how did that happen? Oh yea, we are at war. But don't forget the tax cuts. Closures in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995 eliminated or realigned 451 installations, including 97 major ones, resulted in a net savings to the government of about $18 billion through 2001. The Pentagon projects recurring annual savings of $7.3 billion from those four rounds combined. And Clinton got a bunch of crap for closing bases because it would weaken the military. hmmm..
this is only so the UN can park their shiny black helicopters in facilities that used to be US bases here on our turf. it begins.
Good News. I like to see and hear those jets overhead in Clear Lake. I've been hearing them for 30 years. It's a security blanket thing for me.
