Alabama political leaders are criticizing President Joe Biden’s reported attempt to keep Space Command Headquarters in Colorado instead of moving it to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.
Monday, in a report by NBC News, unnamed officials “close to the process” say the White House is actively seeking to “reverse” the decision to locate U.S. Space Command’s headquarters to Alabama. The report alleges the move is all about the state’s strict abortion laws.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle reacted to the news by criticizing Biden for putting “partisan politics” over national security.
What is best for our nation’s defense – not partisan politics – should determine the home of Space Command.
Extensive, objective analysis by the military has shown Huntsville is the command’s best location. https://t.co/iL8ZyqMKbS
— Tommy Battle (@TommyBattle) May 16, 2023
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) slammed the move, saying this is an attempt to just “punish conservative states.”
“If it is now Department of Defense policy to punish conservative states implementing the will of their voters,” Strong said in a statement. “I’d suggest that Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Arizona, Louisiana, Wyoming, Arkansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, and Utah start calling the Pentagon to ask if they should be worried about their installations.”
I’ve seen all the reviews and reports on the basing process – but don’t remember access to late-term abortions being one of the 21 criteria used to evaluate the sites. https://t.co/PrMQ0xdtDG
— Dale W. Strong (@RepDaleStrong) May 15, 2023
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth also condemned Biden and highlighted the fact that the internal reviews showed Huntsville as the best place for the new headquarters.
Multiple studies have confirmed Huntsville is the best site for U.S. Space Command, but instead of doing what’s best for the military and taxpayers, Biden is flexing for his liberal base and using our pro-life beliefs as an excuse to reverse course. https://t.co/r6DigQxK3P
— Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) May 16, 2023
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) also pointed to the process that led to Huntsville being chosen as the new location.
?“Two previous, extensive reviews that took place after President Joe Biden took office…found there was no improper political influence on the process that awarded the headquarters to Alabama.”
Fact check: true.https://t.co/izHwEmetLl
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) May 16, 2023
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) said the President is making decisions that are a threat to national security.
“Locating the permanent Space Command Headquarters on Redstone Arsenal undoubtedly remains in the best national security interest of the United States,” Britt said. “President Biden should allow the Air Force to proceed with doing its job. Alabama’s world class aerospace and defense workforce capabilities, and synergies stand ready to fulfill the mission and strengthen our national security long into the future.”
President Biden’s plans would irresponsibly yank a military decision out of the Air Force’s hands in the name of partisan politics.https://t.co/31bAOp4sby
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) May 16, 2023
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
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