PENTAGON Official: Don't rush closing of bases
Some are concerned that bases closing now may be needed later.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
WASHINGTON -- A member of the nation's base-closing commission suggested Wednesday that the military wants to close some bases that could be needed later.
"We shouldn't rush into closing down facilities that we may need in the future," former congressman James Bilbray said as the Base Realignment and Closure Commission continued an opening round of hearings into the Pentagon's plan to close nearly 180 military installations, including 33 major facilities.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld submitted the recommendations to the commission last week. The commission is using that plan as a starting point in preparing a base-restructuring package to submit to President Bush by Sept. 8.
Commission members are holding four days of hearings, concluding today, as they begin a four-month review that will include at least 15 regional hearings and visits to affected bases.
Base overhauls
During Wednesday's hearing, Bilbray said the closure of several installations in previous base overhauls may have been unwise and suggested that the military may be on the verge of repeating the mistake.
The former Nevada lawmaker said he was particularly concerned about the proposed closure of Forts Gillem and McPherson in Georgia, asking top Army officials, "What is the logic of closing those?"
In an interview afterward, Bilbray said he's also worried about the proposed closure of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota and Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, suggesting that those installations could be needed for aircraft returning to the United States from overseas military bases that are being closed or downsized.
South Dakota Sens. Tim Johnson, a Democrat, and John Thune, a Republican, have proposed delaying the base-closing process in an attempt to save Ellsworth.
Leaner force
Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said Wednesday that they support a delay, saying it makes no sense to close military installations during a war. The two Republicans want to save Maine's Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey and Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army's chief of staff, defended the closure of 15 Army installations and a far-reaching consolidation of reserve and National Guard units. Schoomaker said the moves are part of "once in a generation" restructuring to transform the wartime Army into a leaner, more agile force to confront post-Sept. 11 challenges.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Craig E. College described the two Atlanta-area bases as relatively small "single-function" facilities.