The Defense Department today sent Congress a plan to begin closing more military bases throughout the United States...beginning in 2003. The Pentagon says as much as one-fourth of the facilities they run are superfluous.
But as Marketplace's John Dimsdale reports the military's desire to shut down as many as 90 existing bases is unwelcome news up on Capitol Hill:
Dimsdale: "The Pentagon plan is similar to four previous rounds of consolidations that closed nearly a hundred major facilities between 1988 and 1995. An independent commission would look at the options and propose a list in the spring of 2003. Congress then would have 45 days to reject the whole list before the military services start shutting bases down. Congress never likes giving up the jobs and federal aid that come along with military properties - especially during a struggling economy, and especially given the upfront consolidation and cleanup costs, according to Defense Chief Donald Rumsfeld."
Rumsfeld: "So it is a disadvantageous thing for any administration to undertake. It just causes angst and anxiety and concern and unhappiness on the Hill, and in Congressional districts. So you'd have to be a real glutton for punishment to undertake it, though it's the right thing to do. The military are unanimous that we should do it."
Our Military
Instead of building up our military.
what does the government do? They close some of our
bases
When we are at war.
It's not so much the overseas countries we have to
worry about today, so much as it is
the terrorism from our people, because
they're
not happy with our government.
Terrorism is
wrong.
Whether it be foreign or domestic,
we must stop it
now.
We Need our military.
We need to keep our freedoms strong and
alive for our next generation.Don't close our base's in the time of war. That is the time we need our MILITARY more then ever. Wake up Mr president and our government leaders Wake up.
No Matter how many base's you close Mr Rumsfeld We the American People Stand By our Military. For without them we are not a strong nation.
