Bush: Base Closures Painful but Crucial

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050527/D8ABIGB81.html

Bush: Base Closures Painful but Crucial

May 27, 10:01 AM (ET)

By JENNIFER LOVEN

WASHINGTON (AP) - Downsizing the nation's network of military bases is a painful but crucial step in the process of transforming the U.S. military into a fighting force that fits an age of terror, President Bush was arguing before Naval Academy graduates on Friday.

Bush was delivering the commencement address to the academy's Class of 2005 in Annapolis, Md., at ceremonies that also were to feature a flyover by the Blue Angels, the Navy's six-jet precision flying team of F/A-18 Hornets.

When Bush last spoke at a Naval Academy commencement, it was four months before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and his focus was the top-to-bottom reshaping of the military into a faster, more flexible and more high-tech, but not necessarily larger, force. That transformation, led by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, is still under way and was again a focus of the president's remarks to the midshipmen.

But the transformation has been complicated by the attacks, and the two wars - in Afghanistan and Iraq - that Bush has launched since then.

"We are now a country at war," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "The president will talk about the strategy we have in place to win the war on terrorism, and he'll talk about the steps we've taken since Sept. 11 to better protect the American people."

<</SNIP>>

[WI_DEM]

1. We are not a country at war

Only Congress can declare War--This is a war the way Vietnam and Korea were wars--it is really a police action. There has not really been a formal declaration of war by the congress WWII

[lumpy]

37. While BUshco is in power we will

always be at war, with each other or with the world.

[Strawman]

2. "It's hard work, gettin rid of all your jobs while I ride my bike" n/t

[triguy46]

12. and havin' to hurt the blue states more than the red 'uns

[bullimiami]

3. bush is a liar. so who stands to gain from the base closures?

there is a catch here, a profit to be made or some powerful group that benefits from it.

I dont know enough to figure it out but I know that bushco is only motivated by greed and power.

[Lerkfish]

6. who ALWAYS gains? corporations like Halliburton, Carlysle group, etc.

Just remember back to the movie ROBOCOP. that'll give you some clues.

[SteppingRazor]

8. It's not that they stand to MAKE money...

It's that having all these bases with no one manning them is a massive LOSS of money. With a lot of our armed forces overseas, and with a more or less permanent war on our hands, many of these bases are no longer necessary, as troops will no longer be home to man them.

In the end, Bush actually (gag, puke, choke) has a point here. Why have these bases? It doesn't make any sense. Of course, if he hadn't sent us into this illegal war in the first place, these base closures wouldn't be necessary...

[Demeter]

20. There's Money to Be Made

Some of that real estate is prime.

[flygal]

41. DING DING DING

That's exactly right. They were either closed b/c they will profit from real estate - like the bases in San Fransisco turned over to massive housing contractors, or kept for prime recreational uses - Hawaii and Fl.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Republicans. They see the writing on the wall and know

the public is sick of them. The public, unfortunately has no legislative memory so when the time comes they will once again blame Democrats for downsizing the military just as they did with Clinton. Note when these bases are supposed to close..it isn't during Dim Son's term.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

43. it's a setup to gain more $$ for MILITARY SPENDING-it goes like this:

televised broadcast-
Chimp: " awww what a shame we have to close all the bases--Sob Sob Sob--"

voice : "Yup, they jest gotta dew it--

Chimp:"wait,... what ?
did you say Congress will appropriate more money now toward the Military Budget?"

voice: that's right!

Chimp: Wow, what an idea,...I never thought of that..

thanks Congress!!

Mucho appreciate,
see ya!!

suckahaaaaaaaahhhs!

[saigon68]

45. He is an evil War Criminal and Murderer

[liberal N proud]

4. It's Painful but it's Harrrd Work!

The only pain bu$h knows is when the hangover head ache.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Bushshit!

Over 80% of those base closures are in areas that are either solidly Democratic or have been trending Democratic. The idea is to either punish Democratic areas, or to bring shaky areas back into the fold by threat.

Most of the closures in "safe" areas are small installations and the work will probably be moved to larger installations nearby.

I live near Willow Grove Naval Air Station. Reagan closed Johnsville Naval Air Development Center in some retaliatory move years ago, and now that the area around NASWilGro is becoming Democratic, they will also feel the Republican lash.

--p!

[brentspeak]

15. That's pretty much it, along with typical Bush graft

I know that here in NJ, Bush cronies are salivating for the day when Ft.Monmouth is closed. Then a bunch of condos will be going up.

[oldtime dfl_er]

7. everything's a friggin crisis EXCEPT the economy, the war, the ....

"it's painful but crucial to starve the elderly, get rid of benefits, send kids to die for oil...painful for you suckers, crucial for me and my cronies so we can have all the money!" What a dick.

www.cafepress.com/showtheworld

[Guitarman]

10. Such Bullshit!

These base closures are supposed to save $50billion over the next TWENTY YEARS. If he wanted to save money, he should never have led us into this effed up war. How many hundreds billions have we already spent in Iraq and how many hundreds ob billions more are going to be poured down that money pit!? The BRAC Base Closures are all smoke and mirrors.

[shraby]

11. How can he say we're at war?

Iraq and Afghanistan are "free and self-governing" now. War is over..time for the troops to come home.

[triguy46]

13. Did anyone notice the math?

rummy said the closures would save $50 billion over ten years. Hell, we're spending that every 3 months in Iraq. We could bail out, spread $50 billion among the states and be waaaaaaay ahead. Oh, I forgot, all the WMDs that "can be launched and used within 20 mintutes", thanks for that Tony boy.

[genieroze]

14. It's all about giving money to the red states and taking it away from the

blue ones. Even though most of the blue states pay the majority of the taxes and get less services. I wonder if all the money the red states are set to make on this little gift will increase their tax liability. Na, * is out to destroy any state who won't support his fascist regimen.

Edited to add. Look at Fort Monmouth NJ, it is one of the backbones for the war on terror yet Bush is going to close it and move it down to Maryland which will end up costing money because they don't have the infrastructure needed to run a base like that. This will leave the Northeast basically unprotected. Where did 911 happen? It makes no sense other then a red state economic boost.

[Toots]

16. Well I am for one am in favor of closing military bases.

The only problem is that they are just building more in foreign countries. No money will be saved and used for domestic concerns. Now our money will be spent in foreign countries instead of the USA and probably even more for military instead of less.

[LibertyLover]

17. Bush in Annapolis

Honestly, that man manages to mess up everything. Getting out of Annapolis this morning so I could get to work was a freaking nightmare. Gridlock-city. I hate it when he comes to town - the whole road system goes to hell in a handbasket.

[Az_lefty]

18. War? I thought Scotty told Helen Thomas we were invited?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3730225

These assholes can't even keep their lies straight. This base closure stuff is nothing but revenge on the Blue states.

[Demeter]

Bush/DeLay/Cheney Impeachment Painful But Crucial

Like popping a giant pimple, or lancing a boil, or removing a burst appendix.

[Demeter]

19. dupe

[Straight Shooter]

21. "We are now a country at war." Ha! I'm not at war. Are you at war?

What are we at war with? A bunch of phantoms with disappearing and reappearing legs? Some LIHOP creeps from Saudi Arabia that our own government, being asleep at the wheel, allowed into our country?

A country in a perennial state of warfare. This is what Republicans have wrought. God bless America, indeed. Whatta buncha crap.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. Bush: Base Closings Needed to Fight "Terra"

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
30 minutes ago



ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Downsizing military bases is a painful but crucial step in the process of transforming the U.S. military into the kind of fighting force especially suited for this age of terror, President Bush told Naval Academy graduates Friday.

"We have more bases than we need," Bush said in a commencement address to the academy's Class of 2005. "Supporting these facilities wastes billions of taxpayer dollars — money that can be better spent on giving you the tools to fight terrorists and confront 21st-century threats."

The graduation ceremonies got under way with 21 cannon blasts and a fast and low flyover by the Blue Angels, the Navy's precision jet team. Six F/A-18 Hornets streaked in formation above the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium packed with thousands of cheering graduates, relatives and faculty.

Before he spoke, ebullient midshipmen got several rousing rounds of "the wave" going around the stadium at this prestigious academy on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=2&u=/ap/20050527/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

[Just Me]

23. eg move those bases from our land to their land to secure an empire,...

,...an empire that serves the corporacrats NOT "the people".

[liberal N proud]

24. That makes sense!

It's hard work keeping all those bases safe.
We will need the people from those bases to man the new colonial bases in Afghanistan and Iraq and what ever country we invade.


Closing bases is another one of those republican hypocrisies.
They claim every election cycle that the Democrats are anti military and will close bases. Well here we are.

[CottonBear]

25. The base that they are closing in my town is a Naval Supply Corps School

It has to be in the USA. Bu$h hates my town because we are a Blue town (in a Red state) with a Jewish, female Democratic mayor and a Democratic Congressman.

[OKthatsIT]

26. Homeland Security was created to Overthrow Democracy

Close bases, move all the military forces outside of the country.

Sounds like an impeachable offense to me!

[Greylyn58]

27. Well Mr. pResident that makes total sense--In Bizarro World

You're closing down bases here that provide thousands of jobs for Americans in the US and opening up new ones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I am sick of this evil schmuck!!!

[cliss]

28. I will translate for you:

Here's what Bush really means:

"We have more bases than we need". translation = these bases might be used for domestic security. We're not interested in security. We're going to be waging wars of aggression. Believe me kids, we are on the offensive.


"Supporting these facilities wastes billions of taxpayer dollars - money that can be better spent on giving you the tools to fight terrorists and confront 21-century threats". translation = we can't be wasting money on these bases. We are mobilizing to attack Iran, maybe Venezuela. Next year, our military spending will be greater than all the world's countries, combined.

"Trust me kids, when I say that we (the PNAC) have already planned to take over the world. Go read our documents. You've graduated now, so you have time".

[getmeouttahere]

33. Bravo, Cliss....

couldn't have put it better!

[cliss]

36. Heh, thanks.

Grants Pass? Nice town. Much drier than the Willamette Valley. I'm a little further north....Portland.

Still nice, though.

[getmeouttahere]

34. Hey, it's an Oregon thing.....

I grew up in Grants Pass...not exactly a bastian of liberalism, as you know.

[Al-CIAda]

35. P.S.- we didn't do 9/11 for nothing. -n/t

[Strawman]

29. Did he follow that statement with an awkward open mouthed pause and stare

until he remembered the next stock phrase?

[truthisfreedom]

30. remembered? no, he was listening to his earpiece.

[MaineYooper]

31. oh yeah, the average yearly savings will cover, what, about two weeks

in Iraq?

in related news, the detachment of Bush* rhetoric from reality remains total...

[getmeouttahere]

32. I want to gag....

"Supporting these facilities wastes billions of taxpayer dollars — money that can be better spent on giving you the tools to fight terrorists and confront 21st-century threats."

You mean like the billions that go down that rat-hole in which Halliburton resides?

For the 7th time today, I say "You couldn't make this sh** up"

[porkrind]

38. Money Wasted on Unneeded Bases, Bush Says

This is rich. The chimperor wants to close "unneeded bases", while building 14 bases in Iraq.
:wtf:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050528/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Speaking out for the first time in favor of controversial base closings, President Bush said Friday the nation is wasting billions of dollars on unnecessary military facilities and needs the money for the war on terrorism.

Bush, who faces opposition from many states to shutting down bases, tried to be reassuring. He said the bases would be chosen fairly and the government would do all it could to help affected communities recover.

[merwin]

39. He has one thing right. No need for bases when everyone is either in Iraq,

dead, or seriously wounded. This is just a plan to keep troops over there permanently.

[darkism]

40. More like "money wasted on unneeded wars." n/t

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

42. It's a BAIT- a SETUP!!-"reverse psycho-logy- to get MORE $$$$

Everyone has to see that-
It's not even slick.

[AzDar]

44. Those closed bases will make LOVELY oil refineries!!