Blumenthal applauds lack of base closures

The Pentagon’s decision to back away from another round of military base closings next year won applause Tuesday from Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that the Obama administration had no hope that Congress would approve its proposal for another round of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) in 2013.

“Now may not be the time for BRAC as our economy recovers,” Panetta said. “But sooner or later, one way or another, the (Pentagon) is going to need to take a hard look at its basing infrastructure as we seek to reduce our overhead costs.”

Blumenthal, in a statement, said the Pentagon “has properly recognized that its BRAC request was dead on arrival. . . because it would cost more than it saves, and imperil national security.’’

He urged the retention of the U.S. Navy submarine base in Groton “as essential to our strategic defense future. BRAC is a blatantly misguided mirage, offering the false hope of savings and only squandering scarce funds.”

Charles Lewis