Backing mounts and optimism grows in sub base fight
Since 08-04-05
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Subject: Backing mounts, optimism grows in sub base fight
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050802/OPINION01/508020306/1014/NEWS01
Norwich Bulletin
August 2, 2005
Backing mounts, optimism grows in sub base fight
The sub base is not going to close." Those are bold words, ones you would expect
from the Subase Realignment Coalition, the lead group trying to keep the U.S.
Navy's submarine base in Groton from the chopping block. But those were the
words of U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., during a visit Monday with the
Bulletin's Editorial Board, after a meeting with the coalition.
"I'm an optimist about it," Lieberman said. "I think in the end the five members
of this commission are going to sort of look into their own hearts and heads and
say, 'Do I want to allow this extraordinary national asset to be closed and gone
forever?' I think the answer is going to be no." Eight members of the Defense
Base Closure and Realignment Commission -- a group empowered to recommend a list
of military installations that should be streamlined or eliminated -- will vote
in about three weeks whether our sub base is on that list, which is to be
submitted to President Bush by Sept. 8.
The president and Congress must both sign off on closures for them to take
effect. A ninth BRAC member, Retired Adm. Harold Gehman, has recused himself
because of a potential conflict of interest. Of course, there was optimism in
October when Lieberman, U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd and U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons all
said it was unthinkable that the sub base would be closed.
But then the Pentagon's closure list was announced in May, and the sub base
looked like a goner. However, with private, state and federal forces marshaling
their efforts, little by little, piece by piece, reasons for the optimism are
legitimate and mounting. On Wednesday, a fifth BRAC commissioner visited the sub
base. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Sue Ellen Turner spent about three hours on
an in-depth tour. John Markowicz, chairman of the coalition, said her visit was
"unprecedented."
That visit went a long way toward creating a better understanding of what our
base does and what it means to the nation. Then, in an enormous development on
Thursday, eight retired admirals -- including three former Chief Naval Officers,
the branch's highest uniformed leader -- signed a letter opposing the Pentagon's
plan to close the base.
These heaviest of heavy hitters said, among other things, that the Pentagon is
underestimating Groton's military value and the cost of moving its submarines;
that the closure includes an implied reduction of total subs, which it called
"an unacceptable risk"; and the submarine force is already far overworked. No
letter or other evidence of this magnitude was presented in 1993, when Sub Base
New London last avoided the hammer of closure.
And on Friday, Anthony Principi, the BRAC Commission chairman, said he was
concerned about the base being on the Pentagon's closure list. "I feel he's
open-minded, but more than open-minded, he's concerned about our national
security," Lieberman said. "And in the end, anybody who puts this first will not
vote to close the Sub Base New London." Opposition is steadfast
The Pentagon, of course, sees it differently. Its mission is national security
and it is not relenting in this fight. The new commander of naval operations,
Adm. Michael Mullen, has taken the baton in the battle to close Groton and kept
running. One of the big arguments? That Groton is old. That brought Lieberman,
Dodd and Simmons Monday to New London for a meeting with the Subase Realignment
Coalition, a day before a state contingent meets with BRAC staff face to face
for the final time.
The goal was to show the sub base not only has significant history, but also
hundreds of millions of dollars in recent investments that make it a vital
facility on the cutting edge. Optimism abounds, and it should.
From where the base's fate was 1 1/2 months ago to where it is now is a
testament to the toil, persuasion and passion of many people. Subase New London
is still on death row, but its appeals and support for another reprieve grow
with regularity.
Soon, optimism will be replaced by reality -- keep the base open, or close it.
The reality is, even with the recent advancements, that this is a fight that is
too close to call. It is no time to let up. Full speed ahead!
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Contributed,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(ret)