Pentagon urges closure of 30 military bases

The Pentagon on Friday recommended the closing of over 30 big military bases from Maine to Hawaii, setting off immediate and furious reactions among the affected communities and the politicians who represent them.

The bases proposed for closing include some familiar names in military history: The Navy’s submarine base in New London, Conn.; Fort McPherson in Georgia; Fort Monmouth in New Jersey and the Pascagoula Naval Station in Mississippi. Scores of smaller installations would also be closed, and others would be consolidated. ‘‘Our current arrangements, designed for the Cold War, must give way to the new demands of the war against extremism and other evolving 21st century challenges,’’ Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said in a statement on Friday.

Although the closings and consolidations are less severe than many expected, the changes will still significantly alter operations of many of the US’s 425 bases and local economies dependent on them. Rumsfeld said the closings and realignments would save about $5.5 billion a year after initial closing costs were paid, and $48.8 billion over 20 years. —NYT