Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is always a painful and controversial activity - and the more so when it has been postponed while events and military demands are changing. In a handout circulating on Capitol Hill, the Army cites 3 main strategic goals for the proposed closures and realignments. They're worth looking at closely because they provide a window into the intentions of the top brass.
RTWT for an analysis of the Army's talking points.
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Wait-- where's the entirely predictable post on the Newsweek-Koran escapade?
Does a comment count as a post? Self fufilling prophecy, eh?
Last I looked, that isn't part of the Army's BRAC strategy.
Am working on a post about bigger things than yet another example of an irresponsible and untrustworthy liberal media in action. Robin with her post about the future focus and reorganization of the U.S. military probably feels her talents are best put to use on this subject. Ditto Dan and events in Uzbekistan.
Perhaps one of my colleagues will be motivated by this. Or perhaps you'd like to submit a Guest Blog....
Meanwhile, on the topic of U.S. bases, Bulgaria said Saturday it will provide three military bases for use by U.S. forces. Military.com has the story
Robin-
You're missing the point, lol;) Controversy about the BRAC process isn't about the military logic involved, but about who's political/economic ox will be gored. Most communities and their politicians see a closed base as an economic catastrophy, therefore they squawk to Congress. In the short term, there may be job (and tax revenue, etc.) losses, but longer term most communities have survived and even prospered after a closing. Of course, our military infrastructure isn't a public works project (that's just a side benefit) and should be judged by how it supports national defense.
The BRAC site notes that the new (and busy) international airport in Austin, TX was made possible by a base closing during the last BRAC round in 1995.
So, it isn't all bad.
But it isn't always good, either. Some closings are simply net losses, and Politicians will fight for anything in their districts - as we've recently seen with the C-130J program.
We really can't expect them to do otherwise.
One of the reasons BRAC is structured the way it is, is to minimize their effect and make BRAC more of a military decision.
Oh, I understand the process - and the rationale - Spot. ;-)
That said, it's worth noting that there WERE serious military considerations at work in the recommendations.
More on the training / joint issues over at The Donovan's place.
Besides the idea of military bases as jobs programs, there is the problem that decreasing and centralizing the bases will substantially decrease civilian interaction with the military in many areas (Phillip Carter). A couple of long-term consequences:
First, there is the military as an interest group. In the 80s and 90s, Japanese automakers made a concerted effort to place factories in different states to strengthen their legislative hand. While every state has an interest in a strong military, I think you will see more legislators treat military improvements as state-specific welfare.
The second more obvious problem is cultural. My local base apparantly has a higher military value than another base with better recruiting potential. So, units are essentially being shipped from a blue state to a red state for reasons of culture, which might only get worse. See Newsweek article for potential ramifications of lack of interaction.
Not that I think these issues should necessarily be conclusive.
With the german media using NAZI era depictions of americans (the depiction of jews then and us now is interchangable) I would like to see us out of germany too.
Poland seems a far more welcoming place. And France dont even allow us to cross thair airspace to bring back our wounded, perhaps its time we brought our fallen of WWII home, im tired of the french spraying nazi graffiti on their memorials.