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WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIAL

Continue work to prevent base closures

THE ISSUE: Closing military bases

OUR OPINION: S.C. should be aggressive in making case for no closures here

Anyone believing politics does not play a role in the closure of military bases is not being realistic.

South Carolina has long considered itself a strong outpost for the military, in part because of the influence of politicians that brought bases here. Political legends such as Mendel Rivers and Floyd Spence in the U.S. House and Strom Thurmond and Ernest Hollings in the Senate held key positions ensuring influence in decisions about military matters. All are no longer in Washington. Rivers, Spence and Thurmond are deceased.

As much as tremendous influence was lost when each left the capital, our present-day delegation has amassed a share of influence. Spence's successor, Rep. Joe Wilson, serves in key posts and has a track record that makes him a strong representative for the military infrastructure at both ends of his district: Beaufort and Columbia. Congressman Jim Clyburn is called by many the most influential African-American in Congress. It's good to have him on the watch in the 6th District. Add veteran Democrat John Spratt, three other GOP congressmen and two senators closely linked with the Bush administration and we stand a good chance of getting a seat at the table for military discussions.

But base closure is not the typical military matter. In an effort to remove politics from the process, established was the nine-member Base Realignment and Closure Commission. It has been a deciding factor in four rounds of closures by the Pentagon, in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995. South Carolina's loss of the naval base in Charleston was indication of the major hit a state can take despite powerful connections on Capitol Hill.

A new round of base closures is scheduled for 2005. By May 16, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld must produce a list of military installations that he thinks should be closed or reorganized in the United States. The list must be approved by the BRAC. The panel will review the list and make recommendations to Congress. Congress must vote up or down on the entire list and is unable to make changes.

In South Carolina there is much at stake: the Army's Fort Jackson near Columbia; Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter; McEntire Air National Guard Station in Eastover; Charleston Air Force Base; Charleston Naval Hospital; Naval Weapons Station in Goose Creek; Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island; Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, and Beaufort Naval Hospital.

The loss of any one will be major to the communities involved — and potentially a great loss for our nation.

Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld argues that this round of base closures "at a minimum ... must eliminate excess physical capacity" and "be the means by which we reconfigure our current infrastructure into one in which operational capacity maximizes both warfighting capability and efficiency."

We agree with S.C. Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom in his recent praise of the announcement by Rumsfeld that a lower number of U.S. military installations would be closed in the BRAC process than had previously been reported. Eckstrom serves as co-chairman of Gov. Mark Sanford's S.C. Military Base Task Force, a group charged with ensuring South Carolina has the highest profile in seeking to save our bases.

Eckstrom and Sanford have met with top Pentagon officials to propose that U.S. forces from overseas bases be relocated to military installations in South Carolina. "It just doesn't make sense from an economic or national security perspective to close military bases at home before closing our excess bases in other parts of the world," Eckstrom said.

While the Pentagon has previously indicated that up to 25 percent of U.S. bases will be closed in this year's BRAC process, Rumsfeld indicates now the number will be much lower — less than 20 percent.

According to a recent economic impact study cited by Eckstrom, South Carolina's military bases contribute $7.3 billion to the state's annual economy, supporting 142,000 South Carolina jobs. "This positive news from the Pentagon could effectively mean that 7,100 South Carolinians have now been spared the risk of losing their jobs due to base closings."

South Carolina through its leaders in Congress and our state officials and friends must continue to make the point that this state has been a good place for the military — a place where the strong defense of our nation has always been supported. And while the state must be prepared to lose at least something in the base-closure process, we should not rest a day in seeking to prevent it.