[highlymotivated]

They could always put a refinery on it. I'm sure the locals would dig the jobs.

[hipaatwo]

Thanks. I'm waiting to hear about Willow Grove Naval Air Station.

[Rodney King]

Open, with no mission. Gee, that sounds smart.

[AzSteven]

If there is no mission, why keep it open? With the units coming back from Europe, was there nothing that could be found for this base? Removing the active squadrons will mean the numbr of employees there will plummet; given that I would rather see it closed so the city can do something with the post, instead of having a big empty parking lot with a few dozen Air Force guards languishing there.

[CedarDave]

Watching on C-Span in office. When AP or ABQ comes up with a link, I will update the thread.

Commissioners used the term "enclave" to refer to the status of the base in the interim. The commission recognized the need to keep the base intact for future missions due to its rather remote location, adjacent open terrain for training, excellent weather, no urban encroachment.

IMO, it is a holding action only. The term "Kick the can down the road" comes to mind.

[PAR35]

Thanks. I missed the actual motion that was approved, but from what it sounded like in the discussion afterward, they are keeping the base open without planes as a welfare project. This BRAC is much more political than previous BRAC rounds have been, keeping open unneeded facilities because the jobs are politically important.

[OldFriend]

Seems to me just about every single vote there are two recusals. Just what is that all about.

Is it the same two every time?

I don't get it!

[CedarDave]

Link up here:

http://www.abqjournal.com/weblogs/beltway.htm

Cannon Air Force Base will remain open - at least for the next five years.

The BRAC Commission just voted 6-1 to approve a proposal offered by Commissioner Samuel Skinner that would give Cannon five more years to find a viable military mission.

Gov. Bill Richardson, who has been at the BRAC hearings for the past two days, boarded a plane for New Mexico an hour ago (about 11:00 A.M. MST). He called the five-year extension a "partial victory."

"I'm encouraged by the commission's action today," Richardson told reporters.

I'm still trying to ascertain all the details and implications of the vote, but it appears under Skinner's plan, Cannon would lose its F-16 fighter jets, but would remain as an open, working Air Force Base until 2010. If the Pentagon could not find a suitable use for the base by then, it would be shuttered for good.

It looks like Richardson and the New Mexico congressional delegation have plenty more work to do where Cannon is concerned.

It seemed from listening to the commissioner's comments today that the New Mexico officials' relentless lobbying for Cannon helped spare the base, at least for now.

Almost all of the commissioners were incredibly effusive in their praise for the people of Clovis. They also seemed genuinely disturbed by the devastating economic implications of shutting the base.

"I believe the people of Clovis and Portales demonstrated to BRAC that the economic impact would be severe," Richardson said.

[Rodney King]

Just realized this base is in New Mexico... perfect place to set up a large-scale detainment camp for illegal aliens.

[marmar]

I am from the Phoenix 944th Med Squadron, and the only beef I have with Cannon is that they were telling everyone that Luke should be closed down instead of Cannon, that being said, if they keep Cannon open it is closer to the border and maybe it could be used as a holding area for illegals. Just a thought..........

[elkfersupper]

Well, now with that problem out of the way and resolved, the good people of Clovis, NM can get on with more important things, like:

avoiding future burrito panics

protecting the public from obscene devil comic bumper stickers

locking up over-the-counter cold medication

rescuing prairie dogs; and

implementing their own, and advocating a state-wide smoking ban

(I can get away with this, 'cause that's my home town).

[ops33]

Spent the worse 1 year, 2 weeks and 3 days of my AF career at Cannon. Within the AF, it is not considered a choice assignment. Many call it Minot without the snow.