Rumsfeld: Base Closures to Save $48.8B (Sounds like he is dictating which

[wakeme2008]

ones to close.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Base-Closings.html

ay 12, 2005
Rumsfeld: Base Closures to Save $48.8B
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 2:33 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Thursday that his recommendations for closing and realigning domestic military bases would save $48.8 billion over a 20-year period.

Rumsfeld is scheduled to submit his recommendations to an independent base closing commission on Friday. He is expected to propose that dozens of bases in the United States be either shut, reduced in size or, in some cases, expanded to accept additional troops from the U.S. or overseas.

At a Pentagon news conference, Rumsfeld did not say how many bases he would recommend closing or downsizing. He said he was aware that base closures have significant economic impact

..more at link...


Big FU Rummy....

[jojo54]

1. Put thousands more out of work....that's o.k.!!!

It's another $48.8 billion they can filter.....oops, SPEND on the war in Iraq.

[antonialee839]

41. Good, Halliburton could use another bonus.

[AllegroRondo]

2. Want to save $80 Billion right now? Stop the war.

[EVDebs]

3. Gee whiz, now if Rummy could only account for that missing $2.3 TRILLION

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/29/eveningnews/main325985.shtml

"Just last week President Bush announced, "my 2003 budget calls for more than $48 billion in new defense spending."

More money for the Pentagon, CBS News Correspondent Vince Gonzales reports, while its own auditors admit the military cannot account for 25 percent of what it spends.

"According to some estimates we cannot track $2.3 trillion in transactions," Rumsfeld admitted.

$2.3 trillion — that's $8,000 for every man, woman and child in America. To understand how the Pentagon can lose track of trillions, consider the case of one military accountant who tried to find out what happened to a mere $300 million.

"We know it's gone. But we don't know what they spent it on," said Jim Minnery, Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

[fob]

9. I can solve the problem with a simple solution. Make the Pentagon

use an account where they get their canceled checks back!

[xxqqqzme]

51. hmmm....there R many

defense finance & spending service centers slated 2 B closed

just in CA
Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Oakland

Defense Finance and Accounting Service, San Bernardino

Defense Finance and Accounting Service, San Diego

Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Seaside

makes U wonder....?

[cpamomfromtexas]

58. Auditors & OK Air National Guard

I used to work for one of the auditors that was a key person in the project. I can assure you they do great work and it is accurate.

The big CPA firms are a JOKE compared to the quality of the military audit folks (note IRS people do not come close either).

Also, just got word that the Oklahoma Air National Guard in OKC is being DISBANDED starting Monday. It seems that so much equipment has been consumed elsewhere that it is basically being cannibalized and moved to other units! The administration is going to attempt to hide the full extent of the trashing of our military and its equipment.
2500 unemployed!

[LaurenG]

4. Where are they going to train all the new troops

it will take to carry out all the invasions they're planning? The economy in all the cities they are closing bases will now take a big hit.

[lebkuchen]

5. Rummy, save money?

Divert it, to his buds, yes. Save, no.

[meganmonkey]

43. Exactly. More available for Halliburton to embezzle

and maybe even get another bonus

:banghead:

[Nevernose]

6. How much you want to bet that the majority are in blue states?

Any takers?

[fob]

13. I'll take that. I would be willing to bet that they will be closed in RED

states with BLUE Senators/Representatives/Governors, so they can be blamed in the run up to 2006. Ed Schultz has the same theory. Bases will be in Nebraska and blamed on Nelson-D, Florida and blamed on Nelson-D, Montana and blamed on Baucus-D and Gov Schweitzer-D(2008 potential), and N Dakota and blamed on Conrad-D.

[Bluzmann57]

31. Rock Island Arsenal

Illinois is hugely blue, eastern Iowa is blue and the RIA is the second largest employer around here. They've wanted to unseat Lane Evans for quite a while and it appears the First district of Iowa is going to be hotly contested. This is where the majority of RIA workers live. They average about $50,000 a year, they spend it in local businesses, they pay taxes to keep our schools excellent, they worship here to keep freedom of religion going, and, get this, THEY HAVE THE MACHINERY AND TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE TO MANUFACTURE HUM-VEE ARMOR RIGHT NOW! When Rummy said that there was no place to manufacture it, he lied. If this base gets closed, there will be hell to pay. If it does get closed, Evans should tear into the administration, with Obama's help. If this happens, Evans will get re-elected easily and the Iowa Dem, whoever that may be, should get coattail votes.

[9119495]

38. Actually in addition to Rock Island, THREE IL bases are closing

I think in close states they will keep them open but IL seems like it will be blue for a long time (thank god). But that is likely one factor in why they lost them.

[They_LIHOP]

60. In an actual Democracy, that's how it WOULD go down...

Here in bUSh-land, we get:

The Upkeep and Demolition of Antiquated, Neglected Clinton-Era Military Facilities and Emergency Relocation-Station Act of 2005 (2005 UDANCEUMFERS Act)

Priorities for Facility Closings

1a) Will the proposed base closure be detrimental to the Democratic Party - either economically or politically?
1b) Can said economic or political cost be effectively and directly translated into GAIN for the GOP?

2a) Will the proposed base closure be detrimental to a high-ranking Democratic Politician - either economically or politically?
2b) Can said economic or political cost be effectively and directly translated into GAIN for (a) Republican Politician(s)?

3) Will the proposed base closure help create corporate profits for the moneyed supporters of the GOP (and by definition by detrimental to those of teh Democratic Party)?

4) Is Base suitable for housing massive numbers of domestic dissidents and other terrorist insurgents whose values are inimical to our Peaceful and Divine Mission, "Spreading The Word About The Evil Brown People who Stole God's Oil, and are Keeping it Stashed in Their Massive Underground Bunkers?

[anitar1]

28. My thought is the same.

Blue states came to mind the minute I saw this.

[genieroze]

45. Fort Monmouth NJ, is on the list, supposed to move to a red state.

[captnjaq]

52. Not only are they blue states...

but they're coastal states, as well. Does it make sense to retreat our military bases inland to red states and leave our economic and population centers more vulnerable? Olbermann tonight showed a map of blue/red states and their +/- on the closings. That's what I thought of when I saw the graphic. Nicely done, Karnak.

I don't think Bush ever even played Risk before.

[ngGale]

54. I know you are right because I saw a map on...

"Countdown" tonight. Keith O. said, you figure it out for yourself!
Other than that, more defense contracts for Halliburton.:grr:

[OneBlueSky]

7. every penny of which will be spent on the war in Iraq . . .

and maybe even the war in Iran . . .

[punpirate]

8. Note that while the 2006 budget...

... eliminates long-term effects of budget cuts (to avoid the political fallout), Rummy's estimates of base-closing savings are now calculated on a 20-year basis. This is an estimated savings of $2.4 billion per year, an amount which can be swallowed up in the total budget in a New York minute.

Moreover, how many new bases are being built overseas, and at what cost? Sorry, you can't know that--those figures are classified. What's the actual cost of maintaining a base overseas as compared to one on domestic territory? You're not allowed to know that--it's classified.

When people figure out just how imperial is this process, it will probably be too late....

[leftchick]

33. WAY too late....

And let us not forget the cost of the new Multi-Million Dollar targets, oops, Communications Systems in Iraq....

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/outrage?bid=13&pid=2132


<snip>

While the exact figure may change, suspicions of undisclosed US imperial plans--exemplified by permanent military bases--rightfully linger. Before the war, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz suggested moving US troops stationed in Saudi Arabia into Iraq. In October, a survey by the University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes found that two-thirds of respondents disapproved of a permanent military presence, even though more than half thought the US would build the bases anyway.

Now comes a report in the New York Sun by Eli Lake revealing that the Pentagon is building a permanent military communications system in Iraq, a necessary foundation for any lasting troop presence. The new network will comprise twelve communications towers throughout Iraq, linking Camp Victory in Baghdad to other existing (and future) bases across the country, eventually connecting with US bases in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan.

"People need to get realistic and think in terms of our presence being in Iraq for a generation or until democratic stability in the region is reached," Dewey Clarridge, the CIA's former chief of Arab operations (and Iran-contra point man), told the Sun.

The fabled "exit strategy" may be not to exit. Thomas Donnelly, a defense specialist at the American Enterprise Institute, said the new communication system resembles those built in West Germany and the Balkans, places where American troops remain today. "The operational advantages of US bases in Iraq should be obvious for other power-projection missions in the region," Donnelly wrote in an AEI policy paper.

Next time the Bush Administration hints at withdrawing troops, keep these grand plans in mind.

[Coexist]

10. but then they can claim they created JOBS because

they will hire movers and demolition teams, its's good for the country!

Plus they want to build the new nukular reaktors on the sites of the bases that they close.

[LiberallyInclined]

21. nuk-u-lar reactors?

i thought that's where all the new oil refineries were supposed to be going.

[pinniped]

11. See, repukes are always about a strong military.

--The POS said he was aware that base closures have significant economic impact--

Of course the POS doesn't give a $hit.

[indepat]

12. Thank God those savings over twenty years will fund the Iraqi venture

a full seven or so months (if you don't bother to factor in the time value of money).

[Steel City Slim]

16. We Don't Need That To Fund Iraq

The oil revenues will take care of that. :sarcasm:

[MADem]

14. That commisssion is NOT independent

It is loaded to the fucking gills with GOP toadies from all branches of the executive branch. They may as well call it the Rummy Rubber Stamp, because there are damn few, if any, independents on it. A salient link on your very topic of discussion: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0505/050305g2.htm

And the salient clip to go along with:

Several BRAC lobbyists and experts, speaking on condition they not be named, said legal changes give the Pentagon more power than before in crafting lists....In previous BRAC rounds in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995, the commission accepted about 85 percent of the Pentagon's recommendations for closure or realignment. But sometimes the panel made unexpected changes. The most famous came in 1995, when the BRAC panel surprised the Air Force and hundreds of civilian defense workers in San Antonio and Sacramento by recommending that two of the service's five depots be closed.

This time, it will be harder for the commission to make such changes, due to a series of provisions in the law authorizing the current BRAC round. They include the following requirements:

--That seven out of the nine commissioners vote to add a base to the list or expand a proposed realignment. In the past, only five had to support any additions.

--That two BRAC commissioners visit any base that the panel is even considering closing or realigning. In the past, only a single commissioner needed to visit a base -- and only after the panel had agreed to add it to the list.

--That the BRAC panel give the Defense secretary 15 days to testify or provide a written response about any additions being considered. In the past, no such requirement existed.

The rules governing removing a base from the list remain relatively unchanged from the past four rounds. To strike a base from the list, the commission must demonstrate that the Pentagon deviated substantially from future force structure projections and the criteria used to decide what bases are closed or realigned. There's no set rule for how many votes are needed to remove a base from the list, but in the past, a majority vote has been required to overturn a Pentagon decision.

[Steel City Slim]

15. I Know A Way To Save A Lot More Than That

Get out of Iraq.

[Redstone]

17. The sub base in Groton, Connecticut is doomed, because

they're not done punishing this state. Not giving the helicopter order to Sikorski was just the start of their revenge.

Redstone

[Shipwack]

26. Rotten Groton...

Eh... I'm split on that potential closure... Cold weather, awful parking, old buildings (unless they've done a -lot- of construction in the last 10 years...).

On the other hand, it would totally screw a local economy that was already hurt from the Electric Boat downsizing, the whole "tradition" thing, and the fact it eliminates one of the three major submarine bases on the east coast, and the only one in the northeast... Concentration of resources is a bad thing. The financial world learned that on 9/11; what will it take for our military to realize this?

(For the record, I enjoyed my time in Groton, despite the weather and the high cost of living...)

[underpants]

18. Red states bend over and get ready to take one up the pooper

Tomorrow

[LiberallyInclined]

19. not all of them-

some of the bases are to be expanded- it would be beautiful irony if the expanding bases are in blue territory...but i kinda doubt it.

[tx_dem41]

20. If I'm not mistaken, every BRAC process has started with a list..

of recommendations from the Pentagon.

[paineinthearse]

22. That's about 25% of the recent "emergency" war appropriation

Where's the other 75% coming from, rummy?

[Gman]

23. $48.8 billion over a 20-year period??

That's a little more than HALF of the latest appropriation for the next six months or so for Iraq.

Complete horseshit.

[DirtyDawg]

24. Looks as if electing all those...

...rightwing repigs in Georgia - both Senators, most of the Representatives, both state houses and the Governor - ain't gonna count for much with these guys...yeah, we're as red-assed as they come. I say close all of the bastards down. Maybe then some of these peckerwoods will have something to get pissed about. And while they're at it lets have Lockheed shut down the most successful air transport assembly line ever - C-130s, C-141s, C-5s - all those pickup-driving, no-necks voted repig as well. Hell we can use the space for some more shopping centers...as if anybody'll have any money to spend.

[DirtyDawg]

36. I should have known better...

...they announced today that the only significant military installation in Georgia that's on the recommended list for closing is in Atlanta. And, of course, Atlanta is about the only Democratic city left in the state...it also has a black mayor, a black city council, a black police chief...you get it. The rest of the 'red' counties across the state that house the military will get more jobs and more revenue. So it looks as if 'going red' politically may have paid off after all for these guys. This actually plays right into the state repig party's plan to starve Atlanta into submission...or revolt.

[Shipwack]

42. Georgia Benefitting...

Kings Bay NSB (located in the very SE tip of Georgia)benefits big time from this... more than compensates for losing half their subs over the past few years.

Groton's loss sucks, though I admit I was only lukewarm about it earlier.

[DirtyDawg]

59. Of course Kings Bay will benefit...

...it's not in Atlanta.

[bonzotex]

25. save 48 billion?

Let me put this through the Republican decoder....

That means it will actually cost $148 billion in new contracts to Republican connected contractors and base expansions in Republican districts.

[erpowers]

27. How Does the Military Feel Now

I am a strong supporter of the military. I wonder how the military members feel now after the Republicans critized Kerry for his military votes. Now it seems that the Bush Adminsitration and the Republicans have completely turned their backs on the military. It seems that Bush does not want to take $48 billion from his tax cuts. Does anyone believe that any bases will be closed?

[Miss Chybil]

50. These closures don't hurt the military. They hurt the communities built

around the military. Military personnel just get relocated.

[Joey Liberal]

29. This is Bush's version of "help is on the way"

The military is getting what it deserves. But a lot of people will lose their jobs because of this. And just think, the right wingers thought Clinton cut the military too much?

[ClintonTyree]

30. Halliburton will steal more than that in the next 20 years....

if the Slugs were to stay in power (no effing way). That's a whopping 2.4 Billion a year. While that's not exactly chicken feed, the Pentagon loses more than that a year, literally loses it. They can't account for it, it's gone, like change in the couch cushions.

This is just more bushit coming from the biggest bushit factory, ever.

[Chicago Democrat]

32. Part of the Raping of the Nation... Grab Base Real Estate and give it

to your cronies...


REVOLTING

[SlavesandBulldozers]

34. what do we fight the war on Terra with then Rummy? SPITBALLS?!!!!

ahahhahah. oh man Dino humor is so fucking hilarious once ya get the hang of it.

all you have to do is tap into that inner corn-pone dry-drunk.

[gatorboy]

35. Gosh, and it only seems like yesterday...

That these same guys went after Kerry accusing him of closing down bases...

[CottonBear]

37. The Naval Supply Corps School in Athens, GA (blue city) is closing.

We have a Republican Governor and two Republican Senators. Athens is a "blue" college town. The conservative pundits and newsguys are already talking about putting the land back into the private sector. The campus is beautiful: lots of old trees and elegant grounds. They'll rape it and turn it into condo crap, mark my word.

This is a punishment targeted at John Barrow (D-GA, Athens) and Mayor Heidi Davison (Democratic Mayor of Athens,Ga). The repubs around here hate her. She's a smart,liberal, Jewish woman. They hate John Barrow even more. They've redistricted him so that they can try to defeat him in 2006.

[mitchum]

61. And I don't understand why John has been voting with the repug pigs...

in Congress with the foreknowledge that they will redistrict him out of existence.
Have you noticed that the culture in Athens seems to be changing? There seems to be a lot more SUV-driving rednecks in polo shirts (what I call "Sons of Dunwoody" or "Marietta's Finest") pouring into town and onto campus.

[Options Remain]

39. isn't this EXACTLY what they criticised Clinton for?

Can we leverage this in the same way to turn it around on them?

[ThoughtCriminal]

40. BG William P. Screws U.S. Army Reserve Center

Montgomery, AL

Glad it's a name and not a headline.

List of Proposed Military Base Closings
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/base_closings_list

[Pacifist Patriot]

44. The closing of the AFB in my backyard might be enough to swing...

my congressional district blue. Still, I'd rather they kept the base open.

[suegeo]

46. I heard Ellsworth (South Dakota) was being closed?

Of course, I heard this from CNN, so it's probably incorrect news.

Anyway, Ellsworth is a big employer in that sad little state.

I wonder how the Bush voting morons in SoDak feel about being stabbed in their little red state backs. Oh, maybe John Thune will save you.

Idiots.

[rfkrfk]

57. the B-1s will be flying to Davis-Montham AFB in Tucson

after a brief stay in Texas.

Davis-Montham AFB, aka 'Jet Junkyard,
lots of arrivals, no departures'.



let's face it, Ellsworth has no mission.

[Betsy Ross]

47. Of course it saves money

because they won't pay to clean up the toxic environment that is military bases. Alameda Naval Air Station was closed a number of years ago. It remains on the Superfund list while the city considers plans for the property. No telling when the acreage will be useable, if ever.

[Mugsy]

48. $48.8B over 20 years? DOESN'T ANYONE GET HOW MUCH $300 BILLION IS???

It just amazes me that Bush supporters still seem to find dollar figures in the Billions "substantial", but don't even blink when Congress approves yet another $80 Billion for Iraq.

Most Dems have become blase' about it too. When Bush gave his late-night Press Conference the other night to plug SocSec, he remarked that "$330 Billion in uncollected taxes is an astounding number!"

$48.8B over twenty years??? If that is a ton of money (and it is), why isn't $80B every few months absolutely horrifying most Americans???

:banghead:

[against all enemies]

49. Maine? Your two Republican Senators just got screwed. Keep

voting in Republicans, you help put Frist in power. While your jobs go elsewhere.

[bling bling]

53. The south and southwest will benefit from this.

"Many of the states that fared well are in the South and Southwest. Georgia would register a net gain of 8,677 military positions, although it would lose 1,971 civilian jobs, while Texas would gain nearly 9,000 military positions, with El Paso and San Antonio acquiring the most."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20050514/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/base_closings_9

[Democrat 4 Ever]

56. Tiny little factoid - Texas and Florida both have a net gain of

jobs from the closings and realignments. GAINS - jeez Louise, they aren't even subtle anymore. Kentucky loses 4,000+ military job but gains 1,700 civilian jobs. Not sure how that is saving money with the pay scale so different for civil service employees over military (can we say outsourcing to maybe...wait for it...Halliburton?). It sure does sound like there is some "thank you for supporting me" stuff going for at least some governors and senators (and a little arm twisting for any Senator or Governor who doesn't ride on the bandwagon with them. I'm betting when it all shakes out, the blue states will be getting it up the a$$.

Anybody listening to C-Span this morning? All the repugs calling in are talking about how wonderful their state and towns are now after the bases closings of 1993. Instead of 12.00/hr welding jobs they now have $20.00/hr tech jobs. (Wouldn't the commute from India be burdensome?) These people have to be on an IV Kool Aid drip 24/7.

[Jandar]

55. Nothing in Utah on the list.

By closing Hill AFB they could add several billion to the yearly savings! Granted it would devastate northern Utah's economy, but it wouldn't cost the Republicans many votes. They certainly wouldn't lose the congressional district.