Every year, the Pentagon makes new proposals for base closings around the country. Every year, local profiteers and their Congress-whores join forces to prevent these closings. This has gone on since the end of World War II. The result is that the US has more military bases dotted here and there, especially in backward areas like Texas, than anyone in the military thinks we need.

It is time to take another look at these bases, and to let the hypocritical appeals of wingnut conspiracy-shills in Congress fall on deaf ears. In particular, there is a huge National Guard training facility in Bastrop County. It is owned by the state, but all federal support for, and participation in, the use of this facility should stop as soon as decently possible.

Dyess Air Force Base, which is located in a wingnut stronghold and has been specifically targeted by wingnut conspira-liars, has long been on the Pentagon’s short list of bases it would like to get closed. It is time to make this happen.