More Military Bases in U.S. to Be Closed (BRAC)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 2/20/05 | Liz Sidoti - AP

[Question Liberal Authority]

Aren't there any in Old Europe that can be shut down first?

[NormsRevenge]

Rumsfeld has estimated that extra base capacity is at nearly 25 percent. But Republican lawmakers said the secretary recently told them that the cuts will not be as deep, in part because the military needs a home for 70,000 troops returning from Europe.

The Northeast is home to many bases configured to defend against the Soviet threat. They could absorb the biggest hit now that many former Soviet bloc nations are U.S. allies.

[FairOpinion]

Arnold is working to try to keep the LAAFB open, but people don't think he'll succeed.

[ConservativeMind]

Let the Defense Department prioritize their spending.

I know everyone doesn't want the base in their backyard to close, but at some point we need to stop being stupidly selfish in our wants for the greater good.

[elhombrelibre]

There are, but they will be closed as a result of the V Corp's two heavy divisions coming home, and other elements coming home.

[NormsRevenge]

I don't think we will lose too many bases this go around, just a hunch, we took it in the shorts pretty good last time..

[McGavin999]

Everyone hates it when bases close, but it has to be done. They also need to improve the housing at the bases they decide to keep.

[Belisaurius]

"I will try to stop it at any point and in any way I possibly can," said Sen. Trent Lott (news, bio, voting record), R-Miss. Closing bases while the country is at war is "the worst possible timing," Lott says.

STFU Trent, you useless drip. The military doesn't exist solely to provide your constituents with shipyard and contracting jobs.

[USAFJeeper]

They have got to get politics out of it somehow and close some bases. We have a Cold War infrastructure with new manning levels and it is a waste of money maintaining those facilities when the money could be better spent improving facilities we use.

LAAFB for instance, noone even wants to get stationed there. If you choose that as an assignment the USAF will not only gaurantee your PCS but will let you stay there for an extended tour!

[lizma]

My thoughts exactly.

This does make some sense but pulling out of Germany should be our first choice. Post cold war I'm not sure they are needed. We have 71,000 troops there. The only base worth having is the Army hospital base in Stuttgart. They handle a lot of our causalities before they are sent home.

The goods news is that a Senate hearing on pulling out started about a week ago. Lets hope they do the right thing. The bad news is we will have to do a lot of hoping.

[No phonys allowed]

This is good, we need quick nimble forces that can react quickly to any threat. The way we're structured now is sluggish, wasteful and irresponsible.

Rumsfeld knows that we're in a different kind of world and we must evolve to meet these new threats.

However, if they're going to close the bases they should auction off the land to a private entity so it doesn't just go to pot like so many of the closed bases did in the 80's & 90's.

[lizma]

I'm not 100% positive China will ever be threat. Actually I'm pretty sure China will someday be a threat. Closing coastal bases would be a mistake.

In the mean time we have to deal with Muslim terrorist. The rules of war go out the window and we may need to have fast react times through out the US. Closing bases won't accomplish this at all.

[noutopia]

The hospital is at Landsthul just outside Ramstien AB, If you were in the military,you would have known that.

[bayourod]

""I will try to stop it at any point and in any way I possibly can," said Sen. Trent Lott "

How? You don't have a Clinton impeachment to sabotage in exchange for keeping your shipyard this time.

[rbg81]

All it means is that the AF will have to fly to the So Cal plants for meetings instead of driving. If Hanscom AFB closes, Raytheon is not going to move its plans out of MA either.

[noutopia]

If you were never in Europe during the 70s or 80s you have no idea what you are talking about.