The Associated Press (AP) recently ran a story about the future of the 450 nuclear weapons in Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming – more or less looking at the economic impact of closing or cutting the number of missiles at these bases would have on the local communities.  All in all it was a pretty good story from the AP.

You can read it HERE.

Great Falls Mayor Michael Winters (a Veteran) was quoted in the story saying, “Each and every facet of our economy has something to do with Malmstrom.”

No kidding.

The Department of Defense (DoD) does not really take into consideration how closing a base will harm a community.  They could care less.  If it happens, the Feds will just throw a few grants to the communities, create a website for communities to use, and maybe assign a couple of people to act as liaisons for a year or so, and then ride off into the sunset touting the savings.   

The Security of the nation should be the primary factor in determining a mission’s survival at a particular location.  Unfortunately, politics play a large role in it, too.

If the DoD really took a hard look at places like Malmstrom AFB there would be several planes flying over the state due to the less congested airspace and using the Malmstrom runway as a home.  Of course, Malmstrom’s KC-135 tankers would have not been sent to Florida (where the airspace is more congested), which was more a political move than one can ever imagine.  One person told me, “Generals play golf in Florida, not Montana.”  I imagine politicians do too.

Malmstrom AFB recently lost 50 missiles in 2007 after the biggest supporter of the base, former Senator Conrad Burns, lost his reelection bid in 2006.  Montana lost the gatekeeper of Malmstrom (and his clout).  Now, the DoD can’t be stopped from doing whatever they wish with the base.

There will be several predictions from those who claim to be in the know about the future of the three missile bases.  I’ve predicted closure for one or two of the bases and that may true, but one thing that is the wildcard is 2010 and 2012 elections.  The Obama Administration may want to protect some weak Senators (like Jon Tester, who already failed to stop the loss of 50 missiles from Malmstrom) and may just cut down the number of missiles each base controls, without completely closing them, so politicians can claim some sort of victory and maybe retain their seats.

As the AP reported, we may know very soon what the future holds for the only three missile bases left standing.  The Nuclear Posture Review is due to be released soon.  Stay tuned!