NASHVILLE, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Federal judges in Tennessee and Connecticut have ruled in favor of state officials struggling to save Air National Guard operations.
In Tennessee, Judge Robert Echols ruled that the 188th Airlift Wing in Nashville should be removed from the recommended list of closings going to President Bush.
"I think this gives us real hope that we can keep the eight C-130 airplanes that are the heart and soul of the Airlift Wing," U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., told the Nashville Tennessean.
In Connecticut, Judge Alfred Covello issued a similar restraining order for the state's squadron of A-10 fighters. The Base Realignment and Closing Commission has recommended transferring the planes to a Massachusetts base.
Lawyers for the state argued that Gov. Jodi Rell, as Connecticut's commander in chief, has the final say in whether a National Guard operation can be completely shut down.
Connecticut officials say moving the planes out of state will not save any money since National Guard employees will still be on the payroll.
