I’m concerned. Is there anyone naive enough to believe that New England will get a fair assessment on the need to keep our shipyards and Navy bases open?

Am I biased? Of course I am. In a state struggling to keep a few decent jobs while paying exorbitant taxes, we hardly need another financial kick in the teeth. Doesn’t anyone recall the havoc that occurred when Limestone was shut down?

Strictly aside from the disastrous effect that a closure would have economically is the military implications. If we were to have a suicide-type of attack on the Bath shipyard or on the Portsmouth nuclear submarine repair station, who would we call for defense? Maybe House Speaker Hastert, or the gentleman from Utah or the two from Virginia? I suppose we could call the 82nd Airborne from Fort Bragg. Aside from a minuscule Coast Guard presence, what else would we have?

As Capt. Ralph Dean mentioned, “In an ideal world, where a commissioner is from should make no difference.” Capt. Dean is one of the volunteers working to keep the Brunswick Naval Air Station open. Sadly enough, I’m sure the good captain knows that politics plays a major part in the selection process. Our misfortune is that we are in New England and lacking political clout.

I feel our best hope is that our congressional delegation puts aside “politics as usual,” and fights like heck to save the naval base and keep Bath shipyard working.

Archie R. Travers, Auburn

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