Naval submarine base in Conn. ready for a fight

GROTON, Conn. - The U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London, located in Groton, Conn., is on the Pentagon's list of proposed base closures.

As the nation's first submarine base, with an estimated $2.5 billion impact on the local economy, the surrounding community is loath to see the base go.

NBC News' Rehema Ellis reports that the base is ready to battle the proposed closure. 

What is the local reaction to the announcement that the U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London is on the Pentagon's list of proposed base closures?
The reaction has been one of disbelief.

“My heart breaks that this naval submarine base is on the Pentagon’s list for potential closure," was the reaction from Patel Muksh, the owner of the Minimart Food Store that sits on Route 12, right next to the entrance to the naval base. He has owned the store for 11 years and says that 90 percent of his business comes from people who either live on or work at the base.

“This base is the lifeblood of this community,” said Muksh.

Indeed it is. They have $450 million in annual wages that would be lost if this base closes. There are 7,096 military personnel and 412 civilian contractors who could lose their jobs. So, there are a whole host of people whose lives revolve around this base.

Therefore, they were thinking, that with all of that money and all of the personnel here, they would not be affected.

The morning newspapers here reported on how there was a lot of this anxiety, nervousness, and alarm about the fact that they could be on that Pentagon list. Now, that nervousness appears to have been well founded. But there is shock and disbelief that this base is on that list.

What was the reaction to Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s statement that the suggested closures are "irrational and irresponsible”?
Well, in just a few words, they absolutely agree with it.

PROPOSED BASE CLOSURES State-by-state breakdown Vote: Should bases be closed during wartime? Citizen journalists weigh in Shipyard town vows fight Portsmouth provides blueprint Closures mean environmental cleanups History of past closures Towns wary of economic 'tsunami' Full list with personnel numbers (Adobe Acrobat required)

Are local officials gearing up for a long fight?
Well it won’t be that long since the list has to be finalized by September.

But, they have been down this road before.

Back in 1991, 1993 and in 1995, the base operations underwent reviews. This community and the base officials have said that they have succeeded in saving this base three times before. So, they go into this with experience. They hope that they will come out on the other end as victorious as they have before.

But, they say that this is just the beginning. But that they won’t give up without a battle and the battle is on.

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