"They’re trying desperately to get in there with the last word," McDonough said Thursday. "They’re trying to make sure the commissioner who is sitting there wrestling with the decision does not decide in our favor."

At issue, the DOD letter stated, is that "the commission is considering retention" of the shipyard "based on perceived Force Structure and capacity issues presented by congressional and community representatives."

"The Department of Defense strongly endorses the current recommendation to close Portsmouth Naval Shipyard," the letter concluded.

The department dismissed arguments made by congressional and community leaders that the Navy does not have excess capacity and that work currently done at Portsmouth cannot be absorbed by the remaining shipyards.

"Excess capacity increases each year as workload requirement decreases throughout the closure period," the department argued. "In (fiscal year 2009), aggregated excess capacity will be greater than 17 percent overall in three remaining shipyards."

The letter said any risks involved with closing the shipyard would be "manageable," and that keeping the facility open "would obligate the department to significant future costs."

Although the letter acknowledged that the commission is considering keeping the yard open, McDonough said he still feels "very apprehensive" about next week’s hearings in Washington, D.C.

McDonough said he’s worried commissioners will put more stock in the Defense Department’s opinion than in the arguments made by shipyard supporters because the DOD is the supposed expert.

The commission hearings are scheduled for Aug. 24-26. McDonough said he expects the commission to vote by Aug. 25 on whether to remove Portsmouth from the base closure list. The commission’s final recommendations will be sent to President Bush on Sept. 8.

By Emily Aronson
earonson@seacoastonline.com

I can't understand why the DOD is being so bullheaded in pushing for this BRAC when the need for these bases has been justified and the savings amounts to less than 2% of current cost of the war. Yet the loss to our national security is incalculable. It seems obvious to me where the real opportunity for savings lies. Add to that the fact that legislation has already been approved which will reduce employee benefits and rights. What more do they want?

It seems to me that the problem is that we are expecting the government to act like a business and make decisions based on facts and the bottom line. In fact, govenment is the worst entity for business-like behavior. In fighting, cronyism, greed to benefit the few and piggy bank raiding are all present. Not that these things don't happen in a corporation, but once uncovered most corporations can move swiftly to counter act the damage or they are eaten up by the market. The government can't move swiftly and won't get eaten up by the market. We, the multitudes with little power will suffer. Of course they are looking to take another pound of flesh. Again I urge everyone working at any of the bases on the list to start to make plans for yourself. Even if the base stays open the government is taking away more benefits. They have to pay for costs incurred elsewhere. Plan for yourself and remember all of this at state and presidential voting times!

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