[CPEO-MEF] "Bases Will Likely Take Less of a Hit"

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

[Even with this new estimate, it still appears that the 2005 round of
base closures will be significantly larger than previous rounds. - LS]

Bases Will Likely Take Less of a Hit

Rumsfeld says closing U.S. military facilities is good in that it saves
money -- but that new estimates scale back the number of shutdowns.

By John Hendren
Los Angeles Times
March 30, 2005

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld indicated Tuesday that
this year's round of military base closings may not be as drastic as
earlier forecasts had suggested, but stressed that closing down
installations was "a good thing" that saved taxpayer money. 

Only weeks away from a Pentagon proposal for shutdowns, Rumsfeld said
that fewer than 20% of base facilities in the United States were likely
to be mothballed this year. That prediction contrasted with a Pentagon
report to Congress earlier this year that said 24% of domestic bases
were not needed. 

Rumsfeld said the transfer of thousands of U.S. troops from bases around
the world would reduce the effect on U.S. facilities. 

"The fact that we're bringing so many forces home from overseas reduces
that number," Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon. 

Rumsfeld had earlier repeatedly cited a Clinton administration estimate
that 20% to 25% of the capacity of more than 400 U.S. bases should be
cut, but said Tuesday that the eventual number would be "less than the
lower end of that range - how much less remains to be seen." 

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bases30mar30,1,6471077.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
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