PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A federal judge ruled on Friday that the Pentagon had broken the law in seeking to close down the 111th Fighter Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard without first obtaining the governor's approval. Can a law truly be broken if it (the list of closures) hasn't been finalized yet? Or does Rummy have to get approval just to make his suggestion list?
The ruling was a victory for Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, who challenged the Pentagon's plan to close the fighter wing at a naval base near Philadelphia. The disputed closure, which would cost more than 1,200 jobs, is part of round of planned domestic military base reductions. I always love it when the MSM says it would "cost xxxx jobs." No, it doesn't. Generally, those jobs are moved elsewhere or were redundant in the first place, which means a more lean/mean/fightin' machine!
The case was closely watched by other U.S states affected by the program because it could set a precedent for other governors unhappy with Washington's plans. Especially, when it involves money!
Illinois has also sued the Pentagon over the plan and Missouri has threatened similar action, saying Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had "run roughshod" over states' Constitutional rights to run militias. Is it just me, but technically, if it was a truly State run militia, they'd have no need of DoD money, eh?
The Pennsylvania case was filed against Rumsfeld by Rendell with Pennsylvania's Republican Sens. Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum. Boy, and I thought the joining of Sheehan, Rev. Al and the Aryan Nation goons was weird! I realize the DoD makes recommendations, but technically, doesn't Congress and the President make the final decision? Then why name Rummy as a Defendant?
The 111th Fighter Wing is based at Willow Grove Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Air Base, which is slated for closure.
Rendell had argued the air wing must be "available to me as governor to perform state active-duty missions dealing with homeland security, natural disasters and other state missions."
"Like flying me up in that nifty F-18 or something," he added.
He also argued that Willow Grove was in a strategically important location between New York and Washington, so its forces can respond quickly to future attacks on those cities. What's a Democrat doing making sense? 
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