North Dakota's congressional delegation lobbied the Pentagon Thursday to keep the state's military bases open.
Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy met with Air Force Gen. Michael Moseley, the military branch's second in command.
Moseley directed the air war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"We went there to detail a series of messages, including that the Hooligans ought to be retained in Fargo," Conrad said.
The lawmakers briefed Moseley on the strengths of North Dakota's military installations - the Air Force bases in Grand Forks and Minot, and the Air National Guard's 119th Fighter Wing in Fargo, also known as the Happy Hooligans.
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"It's just a matter of continuing to push and sell, to make sure we're not on a base closure list," Dorgan said.
Pomeroy called the hourlong meeting with Moseley "a very important opportunity."
Conrad said Moseley is prohibited from discussing the military's base closure plans, but was interested in hearing their pitch supporting North Dakota's bases.
The Department of Defense's 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) plan may be the largest ever, officials say.
A local base retention group - made up mostly of city officials, the state's congressional delegation and business leaders - has hired a consulting company to help save the 119th Fighter Wing from becoming part of the BRAC plan.
Fargo's Air National Guard base fell under the radar of previous BRACS, but it could be targeted for closure or realignment in 2005, said Skip Hall, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general and a partner in the consulting company, The Spectrum Group of Alexandria, Va.
The Defense Department isn't simply looking to cut costs. It's trying to transform the military into a force with more emphasis on homeland security and joint operations, Hall said during a visit to Fargo in April.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Zent at (701) 241-5526
