Orange County Register: It's a base battle, governor

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Friday, February 25, 2005

It's a base battle, governor

Keeping open military facilities as pork barrels can actually weaken national defense


America's military defense should be for one thing: defending America. There should be no pork in the form of unneeded weapons and military bases in favored congressional districts and states. Such pork means less money available for the armor, weapons and training that are truly needed.

That's why Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is misguided in his campaign to keep all state military bases from being closed in the new round of base closures expected later this year. "I will fight to save Los Angeles Air Force Base and every base in California," he said Feb. 22. "California is going to be a united force to save its bases."

(snip)

He explained the process. Currently, the Pentagon is listing bases for possible closure. In March - following the outlines of what was done from 1988 to 1995 under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, which led to 20 percent of U.S. military bases being closed - a nine-member base-closure commission will be chosen by the president and Congress.

(snip)

We remember that dire warnings were made a decade ago when El Toro was chosen to be closed. But earlier this month, 16 percent of it was sold for almost $650 million. New homes, commercial areas and more will be built and jobs created. Of course, few bases are on such lucrative property. But El Toro shows that base closings are not something to be feared.

http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/02/25/sections/commentary/article_420282.php