Space Force Moondoggle: 26 states volunteer to spend lots more federal money
Alaska and 25 other states are in the running to be the new headquarters of President Trump’s “Space Force.”
Not really.
While 26 states have nominated themselves as ideal locations for extra federal spending, this election ploy by the Trump administration aims to make it appear as if any place, including Anchorage, has a legit shot at landing the space headquarters.
The rationale for creating a wasteful new bureaucracy is that Trump likes saying Space Force and giving himself credit for starting the first new branch of the military since the Air Force in 1947.
Not satisfied with a 2019 decision to base the operation in Alabama, Colorado or California, the Trump administration is looking for political points with what one Congressman has labeled a Moondoggle, making it worse than a boondoggle.
There are only a few states that make sense as home to Space Force and Alaska is not one of them. That didn’t stop Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and Gov. Mike Dunleavy from claiming otherwise.
“After careful review of the screening and evaluation criteria, I believe our community meets all minimum eligibility requirements and would earn a competitive score when assessed against the evaluation criteria,” wrote Berkowitz and Dunleavy to the leader of Space Force.
In a column published in a right-wing outlet Outside, Dunleavy claimed that the dream of a new rail connection from Alberta to Alaska “will give industries, including the Space Force, an additional option for moving heavy materials to and from Alaska.”
The Netflix series "Space Force” is more grounded in reality than that vision.
Alaska is not alone in Space Force fever. Turns out there has been a nationwide epidemic of careful reviews.
“After careful review of the screening and evaluation criteria, we believe our community meets all minimum eligibility requirements and would earn a competitive score when assessed against the evaluation criteria,” wrote Mayor Bob Stone of Beavercreek, Ohio, home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
“After careful review of the screening and evaluation criteria, we believe our community meets all minimum eligibility requirements and would earn a competitive score when assessed against the evaluation criteria," wrote Mark Kern, chairman of St. Clair County in Illinois, home to Scott Air Force Base.
“After careful review of the screening and evaluation criteria, we believe our community meets all minimum eligibility requirements and would earn a competitive score when assessed against the evaluation criteria,” wrote Mayor Jenelle Osborne of Lompoc, Calif., near Vandenberg Air Force Base.
These careful reviews didn’t have to go beyond the four-sentence Space Force form letter, to be followed by a wasteful process in which the Pentagon will pretend to study dozens of places in the U.S.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said the Space Force belongs in Jacksonville, Pensacola, Brevard County, Miami-Dade County, Orange County, Pinellas County, Seminole County or in Tampa and Hillsborough counties.
"The governor is not shy in utilizing his relationship with the president and the administration to make sure Florida is named the home to Space Command," Lt. Gov. Jeannette Nunez said in 2019, quoted by the Orlando Sentinel.
At the time, Dale Ketcham, Space Florida's public relations man, echoed the words of Donald Rumsfeld when he said the states “competing are operating under a certain degree of things they understand, things they think they understand—and may not—and things they know they don't know."
In Michigan, Sterling Heights claims the “Michigan Advantage.” It is going beyond a careful review.
“As part of this nomination process, we have done an extensive review of the United States Space Command competition criteria,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. He said “there is no location that can offer greater value or capacity as a key component for future U.S. Space Forces.”
In Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee has endorsed requests from Kent, Lakewood, Tacoma, Everett, Vancouver and Spokane, communities that consider themselves Space Force material.
The City of Spokane wants the extra money, as does Spokane County.
"I'm good with whatever site is chosen as long as it's in Spokane County," Spokane County Commissioner Al French told the Spokesman-Review. "This means our odds are better when we can offer multiple options."
Peoria, Arizona is deserving and not only because it has “more than 300 days of sunshine,” is close to Phoenix and is home to major research institutions and contractors. Peoria’s Congressional boosters bragged that Edwards Air Force Base in California is “less than 500 miles away from Peoria, Arizona.”
"Houston is the perfect home for the United States Space Command," Republican Rep. Brian Babin counters. Houston has long been known as “Space City” and “After all, first small steps and giant leaps are what we excel at.”
In Colorado, Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn talked to the Colorado Springs Gazette about his strategy for keeping the Space Force in his home town, where he said it belongs. He boasted about getting more military spending and how he could work against others if need be.
"I can be on the offense or the defense," Lamborn said. "If I see a proposal from a (competing city) I can go after that tooth and nail and do my best to see that never sees the light of day."
In New York, a town 60 miles north of Manhattan says it has the best place for the force, Stewart International Airport.
“Stewart is, ideally, the place for the Space Force for three reasons,” Steve Neuhaus, an executive of New York’s Orange County told the Middleton Times Herald-Record. “The Air Force already has a presence there, with the Air National Guard, it’s already listed as alternative landing site for shuttles because it has such a long landing strip, and there’s a ton of land around that property.”
Neuhaus said his county would miss 100 percent of the shots it doesn’t take, which is the argument that all the spots with no chance of getting selected can claim as a fallback position.
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