Sunday, August 13, 2006

La Maddalena,Sardinia: Contentious US Naval Base to Close. Naples to Benefit !!

The ANNOTICO Report

Italian nationals and politicians have long publicly protested  the 34 year U.S. presence and  La Maddalena's assets used to support nuclear submarines that stop there while transiting the Mediterranean Sea from the States.

Interestingly, this will be a small part of a MAJOR  shift of naval forces from London to Naples, Italy, the downsizing of the facilities in Gaeta, Italy, and the closure of Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland.

This appears to be an attempt to redeploy US forces close (but not too close) to the Mid East, with US's Most reliable ally.

What will be the response of the Public and Politicians in Naples to this greater build up ?                                                        

Probably mixed. Enjoying the Economic Boost, but not appreciating the greater presence of Nuclear Vessels.

 

Future remains uncertain for La Maddalena
Italian media: Navy to close base on Sardinia by 2008

Stars and Stripes

European edition

By Sandra Jontz

Sunday, August 13, 2006

U.S. and Italian officials say no deal has been struck yet on when the Americans will close La Maddalena, a contentious naval base on the Italian island of Sardinia, refuting Italian media reports that U.S. sailors will be gone by spring of 2008.

No official timeline has been decided on, and this subject remains an ongoing topic of discussion between the U.S. and Italian governments,said Lt. Chris Servello, a spokesman for the Navy's 6th Fleet.

The words echoed those of Italian officials. There has been no decision made. We don't know when it will close, said an Italian Defense Ministry official. Italian media is saying 2008, not us.

The ministry hopes to have a firm timeline by the fall of 2007 in order to brief members of parliament, according to a formal statement.

Since last November's surprise announcement by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld the timing of which caught Navy officials in Europe off guard  base officials started piecing together the complicated puzzle of a lot of details of ending the 34-year U.S. presence on the island, base commanding officer Capt. Gregory Billy said.

The facility is home to naval support staff, the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land, and Submarine Squadron 22  all told, roughly 2,600 Americans: military, civilians, and their dependents.

No U.S. submarines permanently are based at La Maddalena, but that has not quieted some Italian nationals and politicians who publicly protest the U.S. presence and the base's assets to support nuclear submarines that stop there while transiting the Mediterranean Sea from the States.

The eventual closing of La Maddalena is one part of the Navy's Europe-wide transformation process, which includes a major shift of naval forces from London to Naples, Italy, the downsizing of the facilities in Gaeta, Italy, and the closure of Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland.

We're taking a hard look: are these Cold War entities that need to be gotten rid of Capt. Richard Gonzalez, assistant deputy commander for operations support for Navy Region Europe, said, referring to Keflavik and La Maddalena.

Shutting down a base isn't as easy as simply handing over a set of keys, Gonzalez said.

There are political, financial and logistical aspects that dictate the process, which can be unique with each base closure. Closing bases can cost the military millions of dollars, from severance packages for employees, to terminated service contracts, environmental cleanup, and transportation bills to move equipment, Gonzalez said.

Future employment remains the biggest concern for U.S. civilian and local national employees at La Maddalena, Billy said. The 177 local nationals are the hardest pressed to find work since the military base is the largest employer in the area. Some have found other jobs and some are at retirement age, he said. U.S. and Italian officials are working to find other jobs for the rest.

Base staffers are embroiled in details of the closure, from how many sailors will want to ship pets back to the States to the status of the more than 30 leases on office buildings the Navy uses, Billy said.

But until closure details firm, sailors, employees and their dependents continue with business as usual, with students, for example, planning on a full school year, he said.

 

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