States roll out big guns to spare military bases
From Florida to California, panic-stricken communities have responded to the coming round of military base closings by spending millions of dollars on high-powered lobbyists to make sure their hometown bases survive.
The lobbyists — primarily former congressmen, ex-military officials and people involved in previous rounds of base closings — are using their contacts and expertise to make the case that the installations are an asset that neither the military nor the communities can afford to lose.
But some defense analysts question whether the communities are getting their money’s worth.
The base-closure process is designed to be nonpolitical, and once an installation winds up on the list of bases to be closed there’s only about a 10 percent chance it will be taken off.
Still, the mere possibility that a base might be closed has caused states and communities that see their installations as a source of economic survival and civic pride to shell out big bucks on teams of lobbyists and consultants
Donald Rumsfeld’s list is supposed to be released on May 16th and should be at the White House by early September – – and while they begin to close bases and move the military and their families around they still haven’t created better conditions at the bases they will be assigned to – - meaning more housing, facilities and so much more.
I am surprised that you (Reilly) have not mentioned that Mr. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was almost caught. This is good news by any measure, but there is no mention here? I am going to have to ask for my crack pipe back.
lets instead close all those govermental offices like all those EEOC and OCA and EPA and all the stuff we realy dont need:razz: