USS Connecticut at Groton
Photo credit: U.S. Navy
Posted 8/30/10
The Hunt For Red October is the title of a popular 1984 military adventure novel by Tom Clancy, and a 1990 movie adapted from that book. The story focuses on a Russian submarine commander intent of defecting to the United States with his deadly new sub powered by a revolutionary new propulsion system.
This month in Connecticut, another submarine-based drama has been developing that might best be dubbed “Hunt For The Red Herring.” Fueled by cost-cutting statements made by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, politicians of various stripes have become lathered up about the possibility the oft-targeted Groton submarine base (officially known as SUBASE New London), (go figure), might once again be on the chopping block.
Though Gates is proposing to close the Joint Forces Command in Virginia, much of his statement on military cost-saving focuses on cutting back on bureaucracy, boards and commissions, and duplications of services that may be wasteful. In public comments after announcing his efficiency plan, Gates stated: “If it involves ships, readiness, force structure, weapons programs, future capabilities—those are all areas that I’d like to see get more money.”
That doesn’t sound as if the Defense chief has his eye on closing down the Groton sub base. Furthermore, there is no federal base closing commission in existence or even proposed at this point. But a little fear goes a long way, especially in a campaign season, unfolding in the middle of a job-gobbling recession.
A news release from Janet Peckinpaugh, the ex-TV anchor now the Republican congressional nominee in the Second District blared: “Joe Courtney May Cost Eastern Connecticut the Sub Base.” She claimed that “because of (Congressman) Joe Courtney’s blind allegiance to his party, we may now, have to fight to save our sub base.” Peckinpaugh vowed to “work day and night to ensure the submarine base is not part of any planned or contemplated military base closing.”
Courtney himself said Connecticut “must be vigilant in guarding against threats to the base and keep investing in SUBASE New London so it can accomplish its first and most urgent mission—the support of our submarine force and sailors.” Though the sub base is a U.S. military facility, the state has committed millions of dollars in recent years to help with construction and new training programs. Apparently the strategy is that those evil forces in the Pentagon can’t label Groton outdated if the state commits dollars to upgrade it.
The major party gubernatorial candidates smelled the fear in the Second District and jumped in to have their say on the sub base “crisis.”
Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Foley held a news conference in Groton, along with other GOP candidates, to show support for the base. Foley said “it took my breath away” when he heard the rumors Groton might be in the Pentagon’s fiscal gun sights. “Keeping the sub base in Groton is essential to preserving jobs in Connecticut,” Foley said. “My candidacy is all about restoring jobs.”
In a pre-emptive press release, Democratic gubernatorial nominee blasted Foley for holding the Groton news conference. “I was disappointed in the decision by a number of Republican candidates, including my opponent Tom Foley, to hold what appears to be a partisan press conference,” said Malloy. “I think we delegitimize the cause (of protecting the base) by turning it into what some have called a political football.”
Foley fired back: “Is Dan Malloy saying he’s not going to defend the sub base? I don’t think it’s a partisan issue either, so I don’t know why he’s calling it partisan.”
Apparently one man’s “partisan” news conference is another man’s “partisan” press release. It’s a good thing nuclear submarines don’t fire rockets with the frequency and ease that candidates for political office fire verbal salvos!
The very real crisis facing Connecticut is a massive structural budget deficit that will challenge the next governor and legislature in a big way. Candidates might be doing constituents more of a service by focusing on that topic instead of worrying about some potential threat to the Groton sub base.
It is true that the facility has been targeted by federal base closing commissions in the past, so it’s possible the Pentagon and other Washington numbers crunchers might try again. However, a shutdown cannot happen precipitously.
Again, there is no base closing commission in existence, and Congress is not now considering creating a new one. In fact, some analyses of the 2005 base closing decisions indicate the cost of shutting down facilities was more than predicted, and the long-term savings were less than forecast.
Defense-oriented worrywarts claim that even without a BRAC (Base Closure and Realignment Commission), Gates and company at the Defense Department might try a so-called “BRAC-less BRAC”, recommending shutdowns and cutbacks on their own. However, those moves would need Congressional approval, and members of Congress don’t fancy “end runs” by bureaucrats.