[Izzy Dunne]

And so it starts again. The relentless cut-the-military, cut-the-military chant finally has an effect, and then the chant becomes "Look how they're devastating our community". It happens every time.

There will be TV stories on how Joe's cigarette shop outside Blelp AFB is going to have to close up because of those mean old budget cutters.

P.S. Someone should teach this idiot the difference between "effect" and "affect". She doesn't seem to know.

[Gunslingr3]

30% of all jobs in the U.S. are either federal or state government jobs

Those jobs only exist because of the wealth created by the other 70%. We should never look at that dependency backwards.

[GhostofWCooper]

For example the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, used in Iraq and Afghanistan, is proposed this year to be built by BAE Systems in Britain.

And the Army awarded a multi-million dollar contract for 70 million rounds of ammunition to Israel Military Industries, for present use in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I guess BAE is just doing the work General Motors doesn't want. And Israeli Military Industries is taking up the slack for Winchester.

It is absolutely ridiculous to take tax dollars for weaponry and spend them overseas. Our own tax-base will suffer, along with military readiness. We need to get the military procurement people to remember on which side their bread is buttered. Make a law, if need be. Tax dollars should be spent here, at home, if at all possible. Jeez.

As a side note, "70 million rounds" would be sufficient to shoot every Iraqi TWICE. Quite alot for an occupying force...

[Redbob]

Hopefully closing several in Nevada!

Take that, Harry Reid!

[em2vn]

"W" and Sec.of Defense strike again. The President's domestic policies are just depressing. It makes sense to me. The greater our worldwide military committments the greater cuts we make in our military ability. This sounds like something from Ted (the scuba diver)Kennedy.

[Hank Rearden]

Early projections estimate a loss of at least 225,000 federal and civilian jobs combined with dramatic costs to state’s local economies and fiscal health, most notably in the Northeast.

That all sounds great, but I'll believe it when I see it has happened.

[Baby Bear]

What ever happened to Bush saying he wanted to close foreign military bases? Why not start overseas first?

[bobjam]

Perhaps the reason recruitment is down is because prospective recruits are realizing that joining the Army means the real possibility of actually going to war. Imagine that! For over three decades the military sold itself as a great way to learn life skills and pay for college. Too many young skulls of mush signed up not because they loved their country so much they were willing to die defending it, but because they saw all of the posters and commercials telling them how the military gets them in shape, teaches them leadership, takes them around the world and sends them to college all the while paying them a salary with pretty good benefits.

[Cowman]

Another thing to keep in mind is the cost of living in the areas where the bases are being closed. There are military personnel at Otis that cannot afford to live there (many are on the dole in addition to their pay). By moving those positions to somewhere with lower taxes and fewer "beautiful people" they get the equivalent of a major raise.

[hermgem]

Haven't we always thought that peace at any price loving people would be elated to hear from and experience military cessations such as base closings.
Like private sector restructures to stay competitive, this sound principle finally extends into the military sector.
There was jubilation in the media that the military is unable to recruit necessary replacements.
Could there be another round on the horizon of shutting down unneeded bases?

[boris]

"For example the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, used in Iraq and Afghanistan, is proposed this year to be built by BAE Systems in Britain."

They blows up real good.

[quietolong]

Red dawn??

Panama’s President Ignoring Chinese Smuggling
http://www.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/8/22/100034

Chinese Enter U.S. Through Virgin Islands
http://www.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/8/10/214414

Gee let's make it easy for them. Let put all our egg in one basket /s