Grand Forks AF Base Faces Major Realignment

[Qanisqineq]

DELEGATION, GOVERNOR VOW TO FIGHT ON FOR FARGO’S “HAPPY HOOLIGANS”

Grand Forks AF Base Faces Major Realignment; Minot Air Force Base Is Spared
http://www.dorgan.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=237615

Washington – Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, Congressman Earl Pomeroy and Governor John Hoeven announced today that Secretary Rumsfeld has recommended the realignment of Fargo’s 119th Fighter Wing but that the National Guard Base will remain open.

For Fargo, the decision means the base will lose its F-16 fighter planes and its flying mission. It has long been anticipated that the old-model F-16 fighters would be retired no later than 2007. The delegation and Governor said that although losing the planes was not the desired outcome, saving the base from closure is a victory. They also vowed to find a relevant and enduring mission for the North Dakota Air National Guard.

“Why would you take away a flying mission from America’s best pilots?” the delegation and Governor said in a joint statement. “The Hooligans are the best Air Guard unit in the nation, hands down, with a host of awards to prove it. They are invaluable to both North Dakota and the nation, and we need to keep them in the air.”

With today’s announcement of realignment at the Fargo base, the North Dakota officials have started to review the data and analysis in the Secretary’s report. Next week, they will learn more about the Pentagon’s reasoning when Secretary Rumsfeld and Air Force officials testify before the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission.

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Also:


Delegation, Governor Wage Fight for Grand Forks

Conrad, Dorgan, Pomeroy and Hoeven Gear Up for Final BRAC Effort
http://www.dorgan.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=237614

Washington – North Dakota’s congressional delegation and Governor vowed to fight a Defense Department plan to strip Grand Forks Air Force Base of its tankers, saying the outstanding physical qualities of the base mean it can keep the tankers while accepting a new mission using unmanned aerial vehicles.

“Grand Forks Air Force Base is among the top tanker bases in the United States military. This base is in a perfect position to accept the UAV mission in addition to its existing tanker mission,” the delegation and Governor said in a joint statement. “We will make a strong case, based on military value, that tankers should continue to fly out of Grand Forks. Based on every measure – operations, facilities and community support – Grand Forks Air Force Base is a top performer. ”

The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission will begin hearings next week on the recommendation by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to realign Grand Forks for what he described in his report as “emerging” UAV missions along the border, possibly for homeland defense. A final recommendation by the BRAC Commission will be made to the President by Sept. 8 – about four months from now.

Rumsfeld’s analysis of Grand Forks highlighted several positive aspects of the base, including the fact that it has strategic military importance as one of the last remaining active bases in the Northern tier of the United States. It also ranked highest in military value in the Northern tier for the UAV mission.


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[CatholicEdHead]

1. I wonder if this is a set up for a Hoeven rescue?

For next year's Senate race? Hoeven really has an unimpressive record right now as a placeholder governor.

Just like Ellsworth is being played for Thune's gain (I am referring to Tim Russerst's plug on NBC today), we might have "Super Gov Hoeven" swoop in and score a big save for the state which could be spun to overshadow all of Conrad's accomplishments.