Posted on 05/13/2005 11:20:59 AM PDT by seacapn
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon today recommended closing Naval Station Ingleside, Brooks City Base, Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant, Red River Army Depot and several smaller military installations in Texas.
However, Texas would see a net gain of more than 9,000 military jobs under the plan, led by growth at Fort Bliss in El Paso and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, according to the Pentagon. Six bases would be realigned, including Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and Sheppard Air Force Base.
The Base Realignment and Closure Commission will review the Pentagon's list and send its recommendations to President Bush. He must issue a list to Congress by Sept. 23. Congress has 45 days to reject it before it becomes official.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Good to hear..
Oh this isn't going to take long.. Media: "Bush conspiracy, takes jobs from everywhere, brings them to Texas."
What about the American taxpayer? Funny how most of the arguments against the closure of every base on the Pentagon list centered on the jobs it provided and the economic value of the base to its community. Sounds like the argument of every public employee union when government reductions are proposed...not that the jobs to be cut are necessary or of value to the taxpayer, just that they are...well...good jobs for those who hold them
That's a half-truth. True Texas gains 9,838 military jobs, but it also loses 3,175 DoD civilian jobs and loses 513 direct DoD contractor jobs. The net total gain for Texas is 6,150.
Well, the blue states didn't want them anyways...
May the wailing be continuous and agonizing. ;)
Talk to ArmyBratProud about that.
Looks like my home state of Oregon made it through with no closures. But it's not like there would be that much to close in the first place.
Back in the 1970's I spent two months at Brooks City Base (then called Brooks AFB) taking part in a research program. Part of that was geeting to ride the centrifuge during a radioactive chromium-51 red cell survival study under G loads.
http://www.mgh.org/lab/CATALOG/TESTS/149.HTM
http://afrotc.tamu.edu/wing/pictures.asp?mainf=Fall%202004&subf=Brooks%20AFB%20Centrifuge
Bush bringing home the pork. Oink Oink.
Good...we need them to guard the border.
*Yawn*.. Zzzzzzzzz. Stupid Idea Alert.
Excuse me?
Josh is an open borders guy
Of course its Bush's state. What's good for the rest of the country, but is not good for Texas when it comes to base closings. I like Bush, but this move just shows you that its always politics. There is a lot pork in Texas, and Washington kept it in tact. So much for less government?
oink, oink
That may be true, but where else? Why should the military stack bases on, say, the west coast around peacenik liberals who hate the military and everything it stands for?
"Josh is an open borders guy"
Well, calling it a 'stupid idea' is sure a strong argument.
There's a difference between an open border and a free border. The former is debatable, the latter untenable. An open border must still be patrolled.
My understanding is that the BRAC is bi-partisan, and not subject to the same local political concerns that caused Congress to admit that they cannot act in the interests of national defense where spending taxpayer dollars is concerned. If Texas got the better deal on realignment it probably has more to do with the climate, the land/property availability, and the military friendly environment of that state. Fort Hood, for one example, has always been the "Free World's Largest Armor Post". Arkansas didn't suddenly become the military center of universe during the Clinton years, after all.
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