Testimony of Lawrence J. Korb

Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and Senior Advisor to the Center for Defense Information

Before the Overseas Basing Commission

Sept. 2, 2004

Senate Dirksen, SD138

I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today.  Your charge to consider and assess the issues relating to overseas basing is critical to our national security and the continued success of the all volunteer military.

I approach this issue from several perspectives.  From May 1981 through September 1985, I was privileged to serve as assistant secretary of defense with primary responsibility in the Department of Defense for operating and maintaining our installations at home and abroad.  In that position I dealt with many of the issues confronting you today, for example, host nation support, spousal employment in foreign countries, and primary and secondary education for dependents of military personnel stationed around the globe.  And working with the late Sen. Barry Goldwater and former Rep. Dick Army, my office paved the way for creating the base realignment and closure process.  Finally, as a young naval flight officer my “homeport” for my last year on active duty was on the Japanese Island of Okinawa.

In making your judgment I urge you to consider the following:

First, developing a domestic and overseas basing posture should be part of an overall national security strategy and force posture review process.  As you know, despite the requirement of Goldwater-Nichols that the executive branch produce a national security strategy once a year, the Bush Administration has issued only one national security strategy in almost four years in office.  The next quadrennial defense review is now scheduled for 2005.

Second, the base realignment and closure process and the overseas basing process should be free of political considerations.  Bases in the United States and around the globe should not be opened or closed because of the political clout or influence or lack thereof of individual elected officials here or abroad.  Politicians come and go but our national security interests are constant.

Third, the domestic base structure of the United States military is too large.  Even if the Department of Defense were to close every overseas base, there would still be a need for additional base closures in the United States.  It is unfortunate that the base realignment and closure process stopped after the 1995 round.

Fourth, the military forces of the United States that are deployed around the globe are not far forward deployed as a favor to the host countries.  They are there to protect American interests.  Forces in countries like Germany, Japan, and South Korea are stationed in those nations to support national interest, not to prop up the economies of the host nations or enable them to skimp on their defense spending.  In fact, many countries permit us to deploy our forces there over the opposition of their own people.

Fifth, in most cases it is less expensive to station troops abroad than in the United States, particularly when the host nations underwrite their cost by constructing facilities or offsetting the annual operating and maintenance costs in cash or in kind.

Sixth, closing overseas bases will not save money unless the troops serving overseas are demobilized.  In fact, if overseas bases are closed and the troops are sent back to the United States, it will actually be more expensive, at least in the short run.  Not only will additional facilities have to be built in the United States, but in some cases the Department of Defense will have to buy more air or sea lift.

Seventh, overseas basing is not necessarily a hardship for military personnel.  In fact, in many cases it is an incentive to join and remain in the active service.  Men and women do join the Navy (Army, Air Force, and Marines) to see the world.  Being home ported in Okinawa was one of the best experiences of my naval service.  Most military personnel relish their assignments in Europe and Japan, particularly when they have an accompanied tour and their spouses find employment. 

Eighth, the brave men and women and their families who are stationed overseas are excellent ambassadors for the values we are trying to promote around the world. Bringing them home will cost in more ways than one.

Finally, when closing bases overseas or bringing troops home, it is important that it be done in concert with our allies and the host nations. If we do not do so, we risk sending the wrong signal to our friends and foes.

Thank you very much for your attention. I look forward to taking your questions.