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| Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
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US recommends closure of 33 military bases WASHINGTON, Saturday (AFP) Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recommended the closure of 33 US military bases Friday as part of a major reorganization aimed at trimming excess capacity while repositioning US forces around the world. "Our current arrangements, designed for the Cold War, must give way to the new demands of the war against extremism and other evolving 21st century challenges," Rumsfeld said in a statement. The list has been nervously awaited by communities around the United States that stand to lose jobs and revenue from the closure or shrinkage of bases. The announcement was bigger than four previous rounds of closures between 1988 and 1995. But the overall impact was blunted by the return of 70,000 US troops from Germany and South Korea to US bases, as well demand for surge capacity created by the US war on terrorism and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials indicated that troops from 1st Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division, now in Germany, would be absorbed by bases in Kansas and Texas with support units going to bases in Kentucky and North Carolina. An army brigade that already has been withdrawn from South Korea for duty in Iraq will be based in Colorado. "As you can see, we are recommending the closure of 33 of the 318 major military installations in the United States, and the realigning of 29 more," said Michael Wynne, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. "We also are recommending the closure or realignment of another 775 smaller military locations," he said. Most of the closures were army, navy and some air force regional reserve bases and centers. |
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