According to a Senate aide, the White House is now threatening to put NebraskaÂ’s Offutt Air Force Base on the BRAC list if Nelson doesnÂ’t fall into line.
Offutt Air Force Base employs some 10,000 military and federal employees in Southeastern Nebraska. As our source put it, this is a “naked effort by Rahm Emanuel and the White House to extort Nelson’s vote.” They are “threatening to close a base vital to national security for what?” asked the Senate staffer.
Indeed, Offutt is the headquarters for US Strategic Command, the successor to Strategic Air Command, and not by accident.
STRATCOM was located in the middle of the country for strategic reasons. Its closure would be a massive blow to the economy of the state of Nebraska, but it would also be another example of this administration playing politics with our national security.
And Groton Naval Base unless Lieberman plays along as well. Trouble is, some senators get stubborn when threatened. |