Local News - Norwich Bulletin - www.norwichbulletin.com

Local News - Norwich Bulletin - www.norwichbulletin.comThe Defense Department ended the speculation on when the ax will fall by announcing Tuesday the list of recommended base closings will be released Friday.


According to the schedule, Service Honor Guard members will begin delivering copies of the list to members of Congress beginning at 9:15 a.m. Honor guard members “tested” the delivery system Tuesday by delivering white envelopes to House and Senate staff offices. The envelopes were clearly marked “This is NOT the BRAC list.”



The real list of recommended base closings and realignment is approximately 1,000 pages. Included in the package will be a state-by-state summary showing the impact of the recommendations. Sometime later in the morning Friday, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will hold a news conference when he will issue a state-by-state summary of his recommendations.

“Secretary Rumsfeld is in charge, and he’s proving it,” said Subase Realignment Coalition Chairman John Markowicz.

Markowicz, who heads the local effort prepared to fight any attempt to close or realign the Groton Submarine Base, said he was surprised at the decision.

“I would have thought it would have been easier if it were done sooner,” he said. “So I am kind of surprised. But at the same time, I don’t think you can read anything into the tea leaves.”

By law, the secretary is required to forward his recommendation of base closings to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission no later than Monday. Last month, Rumsfeld indicated the list would be released the Friday before. However, Pentagon officials expressed some concern about that decision — releasing the data Friday the 13th — giving rise to speculation the list might be made public sooner.

The speculation was ended with the release of the Pentagon letter Tuesday outlining the schedule for the release to Congress.


Originally published May 11, 2005