Posted on 05/14/2005 7:26:10 AM PDT by Semper Paratus
For area residents, who remember that two F-15s from Otis scrambled for New York on Sept. 11, 2001, yesterday's news was devastating.
''I think it's a disgrace, especially after 9/11," said Sullivan. ''They're protection for Massachusetts, if something happens."
For locals, though, the base remains a key part of Cape history. It's the place where John F. Kennedy used to fly into en route to his family's compound.
More recently, Otis's quick response on Sept. 11 is a point of pride. ''The air guard, of course, defends the Northeast corridor of the US, and they're all excellent citizens," said LaFarge, a Bourne lawyer and selectman. ''So we're kind of shocked and really, really upset."
Closing Otis would rob the base of 62 military and 443 civilian jobs, said Wendy Northcross, chief executive officer of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. At the State House, US Representative William D. Delahunt said the 102nd Fighter wing would probably be reassigned to New Jersey and Florida.
''I don't think it makes sense in terms of cost- saving," Delahunt added.
Senator Therese Murray, a Plymouth Democrat whose district includes Otis, called the recommended closing ''absolutely outrageous."
''Moreover, pulling out of Otis Air Force Base is a devastating blow to our state's and our nation's homeland security," Murray said. ''Closing Otis is one of the biggest homeland security mistakes that can be made."
LaFarge liked hearing Otis's jets overhead in Bourne. ''It's just comforting to know they're ours," he said. Mitrokostas, who owns Dino's Sports Bar, agreed. ''To me, that's the sound of freedom," he said.
A decade ago, that task might have been harder because of environmental pollution. But Cape officials helped broker agreements to clean up and protect the land, Northcross said.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
''I think it's a disgrace, especially after 9/11,"
And because it was from Otis it couldn't intercept the flights in time.
Also these Cape clymers have been suing the base for years complianing of the artillery training and low level aircraft and environmental whines.
Maybe this would be a good sport for the Nantucket wind farm.
"Maybe this would be a good sport for the Nantucket wind farm."
Ouch! nice.
"The young president used to fly in and out of this base...."
Did he use the base to have his whores flown in ?
I love 'protection for Massachusetts' -
against what exactly? Besides the Kennedy clan?
If the only reason the military base is still open is so that it can protect Ted Kennedy, Bawney Fwank and John Kerry, then maybe it should be closed.
And what percentage of those enraged folks voted for one
or more members of the vilest,filthiest,most anti-military Congressional delegation of this nation's 50?
I thought they hated our military in what is probably the bluest of the blue states. Maybe they can call their beloved UN if they need protection.
What a pack of cynical lies.
If Otis closes, the money made selling that prime real
estate might keep all the other bases open.
Isnt it funny how socialists from Massachusetts and Connecticut who are against the war, against the military, against Nuclear weapons and Atomic energy scream like raped apes when the military pulls out of their Air Base and Nuclear Submarine base?
They may hate the military , but they love that pork.
Does my heart good to hear Lieberman whine.
They can turn the base into a PRISON FOR ILLEGALS. How's that? I mean, taxes can NEVER be too high for those folks.. look at the good that will come out it./s
"For locals, though, the base remains a key part of Cape history. It's the place where John F. Kennedy used to fly into en route to his family's compound."
Now there's a good reason to keep Otis AFB open...
We lived on Otis for a couple of years when hubby was stationed in the Bibb. They HATED the military, any branch, and often wouldn't even accept credit cards like Visa from us because they said we were "transients." As you say, they continually sued the US over noise, refused to cooperate with the base, and the real estate types really WANTED that land. Now they're whining? Boo-stinkin-hoo.
Hey,it's protecting me too !!!! A conservative in Massachusetts needs all the protection he/she can get.
Wrong.
They couldn't make it in time because they were told too late to intercept.
Time on call means more than time to station. They weren't told to proceed until the aircraft were too close to target, not because the F-15's were too far away.
Great. I'm for pulling all military jobs out of Mass and sending all illegal immigrates there instead.
Actually, Boston is a hub of terrorist activities.
Perhaps they should clean out and secure their airports and then we can rethink military installations for the Boston Leftist crowd.
Man, you are brave. You deserve your own Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard contingent.
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