Maine’s senate delegation wants the Pentagon to donate to Maine the military facilities in the state that are marked for closure under BRAC 2005. To see that this happens, the senators want to tack an amendment onto the Fiscal 2006 defense authorization bill. It may be a worthy idea, giving something back to the losing communities. Considering the crunch to just get a Senate authorization bill out the door and into conference with the House, chances of passage seem slim. Read here about the measure.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.