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December 3, 2009

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Letter: Disasters shed light on BRAC plans

Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005 | 10:47 a.m.

In view of recent disasters, we voters realize the need for control by the nation's governors of their strong National Guard units and equipment, located for immediate deployment if needed on short notice. BRAC strips this long-standing concept by relocating most of the equipment and infrastructure.

Even the Pentagon complains about the folly of using active-duty military for primary disaster control, replacing the historic function of the U.S. Coast Guard and National Guard.

Remember Pearl Harbor? Moving many scattered U.S. Air Force bases to a few concentrated locations could make them vulnerable. We all should realize that one ingenious attack could wipe out an entire class of aircraft.

Suppose the East Coast submarine bases had been consolidated into Gulfport, Miss., as proposed several years ago. Where would they be today?

The time for action is now. Richard E. Law Las Vegas

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