2005 base closings quietly become law

[MaineDem]

PORTLAND, Maine — While Maine was focused on a statewide referendum election, the final report of the military base closing commission that shutters the Brunswick Naval Air Station quietly became law.

This week was the deadline for Congress to disapprove the Base Closure and Realignment Commission´s report, which President Bush had signed off on in September. With the passing of the deadline Wednesday, the closings took effect and no further action by the president was required.

In a 324-85 vote last month, the House refused to veto the commission´s report.

Military bases targeted in the latest round of closings have six years to shut down and shift forces.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D8DPRHB00-314.shtml

[texpatriot2004]

1. The evil regime wants war without end, why close all these

military bases? BTW I find it appalling.

[punpirate]

3. It's quite simple...

... this frees up money to build more bases overseas (which are, btw, much more expensive to run).

This is the Department of Offense, not the Department of Defense. That said, the real indication of the use of the military today is in the closure of so many Guard depots. The Guard is supposed to be for territorial defense. Consolidating active duty stations will allow for active duty military to be trained and staged in the US for rapid deployment overseas.

This is an imperial strategy, and has nothing to do with defense. It's about waging war around the world.

[texpatriot2004]

4. True. They are building tons of bases abroad huh? nt

[punpirate]

5. Through the early- and mid-90s...

... the number was decreasing, but beginning with NATO intervention in the former Yugoslavia and Kosovo, they've been on the upswing. There are new bases in all the `stans, except one. Two new big bases in Kosovo, several new and apparently permanent bases in Iraq and Kuwait. New base in Qatar. Air base in Romania and a naval air station in Bulgaria, I believe. All these are around or near oil production and/or processing areas or near transportation routes. There are rumors that the US is pressuring Indonesia to establish bases there (supposedly to support tsunami relief). There's the new, semi-secret base in Paraguay. There are plans afoot to start sneaking troops into oil-producing areas on the west coast of Africa.

Legions on the march....

Cheers.

[texpatriot2004]

6. Imperialists on the march and fascists too. n.t

[merwin]

2. It's funny that the people responsible for making noise are saying

that it passed quietly.