12/04/03

By CHALLEN STEPHENS
Times Staff Writer challens@htimes.com

All signs indicate that Huntsville will maintain its prosperous marriage to the military, but nothing should be taken for granted.

Such was the soft-spoken warning from U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions during a Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday.

In a speech that ranged from family values to the national economy to ongoing efforts in Iraq, Sessions repeatedly focused on the economic engine that drives Madison County. Redstone Arsenal has long been the county's largest employer, with more than 11,000 employees. Huntsville Hospital is second, with about 4,500.

Sessions, a second-term Republican from Mobile, said military plans call for $100 million in construction on Redstone over the next 10 years. However, the next round of Base Realignment and Closure is scheduled for 2005.

"Who knows what will happen in BRACs?" Sessions said. "And we all ought to be nervous."

Facing a crowd of more than 500 at the Von Braun Center North Hall, Sessions said city leaders need to continue to sell this community and continue luring employers. He spoke in front a chamber sign displaying the slogan "Prepare. Develop. Promote."

In response to a direct question about Redstone, Sessions offered: "I do feel good about our future, but I'm not overconfident."

Later Wednesday, during an interview with The Times' editorial board, Sessions said Huntsville could benefit from a realignment, nabbing jobs from other bases that are closed or downsized.

At the VBC, Sessions began his mid-day speech with talk of values, saying the future success of the country depends on sound parenting.

"I hope you are all raising your kids right," he said.

He complimented Huntsville on economic success, on full hotels and defense contracts. He said preserving Redstone is "the right thing for America."

From there, he moved to national and international affairs. Sessions told the crowd the United States should pay more than $12,000 to the family of a soldier killed in combat.

He said President Bush's tax cut has worked and the economy is rebounding, although he remains concerned about a federal deficit of $374 billion. He shared the recipe for economic success: less tax, less regulation and a free-market commitment.

He bragged about Bush, praising him for decisiveness when changing tactics in Iraq. "This guy does not sit around and let things float by."

U.S. troops in Iraq have a good attitude and are proud to serve, he said. In fact, they want more to do.

"I believe they are heroes," he said. "I don't think they are victims."

However, he said he did not believe adding more troops would solve the recent attacks in Iraq.

Later, during the interview at The Times, Sessions said the war in Iraq went extraordinarily well, but the recent spike in attacks and ambushes has been troubling. He said he believed the U.S. would persevere in Iraq through police work, rather than military might. That means local police who understand the language are more likely to obtain information to head off terrorist attacks.

When the electricity improves and the economy turns and Iraqis take a more active role in government, there will be fewer reasons for sabotage, he said. Americans, Sessions said, need to stand and fight to prove the U.S. military won't retreat from terrorists.

"I don't think the American people are afraid to take casualties in a just effort that's important," he said. "The military is strong, and I think the American people will support this."