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Mother of All BRACs

It's been called the "Mother of all BRACs" and the Department of Defense appears ready to start the process Friday. That process decides which military bases will close.

The big question here, what will be the impact on Redstone Arsenal? Valley leaders are bracing for brac. They know the next few days are a waiting game and even after Friday's expected announcement that waiting game is not over.

Meetings this week and ones dating all the way back to September. "We're getting down to the point now," said Governor Riley during one of those September meetings.

Through it all, the topic of Redstone Arsenal's future has been front and center. "Anything in the plus column will be a victory for us," says Congressman Bud Cramer.

"I believe Huntsville, Decatur, the whole area is getting ready to get a surge," adds Senator Richard Shelby. That surge may be more likely.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently said this year's BRAC round could target less military bases than originally thought.

But valley leaders in Washington DC Tuesday maintained their guarded optimism. "I'm never cocky or too confident about anything because you don't know what's going to happen until it happens," says Shelby.

Win or lose, nothing's a sure thing for Redstone now and it's not a sure thing when the Defense Department releases their recommendations either. While the DOD's list is expected out Friday it can see changes.

The BRAC commission must present their version of the list to the President by September 8th for his acceptance or rejection. Congress will have the final say to accept or reject the closures, in a straight up or down vote, meaning they cannot make changes.

And, as Redstone remembers from BRAC 1995 any change takes time to implement. "BRAC '95 the first people from st louis moved in the summer of '97. And we were pushing to get them in that early," says Retired General James Link. And of course leaders hope to handle another influx of people. But right now this is simply a waiting game they've prepared to play.