Base Closings To Go Forward.

The latest round of military base closings, as modified by a commission that reviewed the Defense Department's recommendations, is almost certain to go forward, as Congress is disinclined to veto the recommendations.

The nine-member commission reviewing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's plan to restructure the U.S. domestic base network sent President Bush the report in September. It called for closing 22 major military bases and reconfiguring 33. Hundreds of smaller facilities from coast to coast also will close, shrink or grow.

There have been four previous rounds of base closings including rounds in 1991 and 1993. Denver's Lowry neighborhood is a result of the base closing process.

Colorado will fare better in this round of base closings than almost any other state as many personnel from closed bases will be relocated to facilities here.