Political Quotes

“it is now 8 months since the Base Closure and Realignment Commission overruled the recommendations of the Air Force, the Secretary of Defense, and its own staff and elected to close Plattsburgh Air Force Base and expand McGuire Air Force Base, rather than the opposite. The Air Force had proposed to establish its East Coast Air Mobility Base at Plattsburgh, taking advantage of its outstanding runway and parking ramp, its extensive new refueling system, the excellent base infrastructure, and the lack of airspace congestion. The members of the Commission concluded that Secretary Aspin had deviated substantially from two closure criteria when he placed a higher military value on Plattsburgh than McGuire. The Commission's staff conducted their own exhaustive analysis and reached the same conclusion as Secretary Aspin, that Plattsburgh had greater military value. Tragically, the Commissioners reached a different conclusion; move the new air mobility base to McGuire and close Plattsburgh. They did not close any other large aircraft base that the Air Force wanted to keep open. The result is that the Air Force is spending $43 million this year, $78 million next year, and more in 1996 to bring a base it did not want up to the standards of an air mobility base. Plattsburgh is facing a massive disruption in the fabric of its community as its largest employer prepares to leave town.”