BRAC Attack

Washington announces the latest round of military base closings and realignments Friday morning. The impact on towns and states has been described as a "tsunami." At stake: humdreds of millions in federal dollars for local economies, population shifts as military families move out of one town for another, a ripple effect as their kids empty out of schools or create overcrowding in others. The second guessing is going strong:

• The Christian Science Monitor reports "US Towns Brace for Base-Closing Wave"
• USA Today reports on how "States Challenge Pentagon on Closing National Guard Bases"
• CNN reports things may not be so dire as local interests fear in "Base Closings May Be Reduced"
• ABC gives you a picture of facts, figures, and what it means with their "Primer: Understanding Military Base Realignment and Closure"
  
  

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is to deliver the list of bases up for closure and realignment Friday morning at 8:30. (Watching Washington)