Ever since the shocking recommendation by the Defense Department to close Submarine Base New London, residents of Connecticut – from public officials, to business leaders, to concerned citizens – have come together in common cause to keep alive this unique military asset.

No one in our state needs to be convinced that the effects of closing the base would be devastating. Life in Southeastern Connecticut is inextricably linked to the Sub Base – from the base itself, to Electric Boat and its subcontractors where these extraordinary vessels are built, to the local businesses that serve our military and their families. It is estimated that the closure would ultimately cost Connecticut’s economy 31,500 jobs and $3.3 billion.

From snipers to car bombs to organized ambushes, American troops around the globe face immediate threats each and every day. But they also face another serious threat, one that is far-reaching and large-scale. With every passing day, more and more of the weapons and equipment that protect our troops and our nation are being built on foreign shores. That threat was made crystal-clear last week, when the Pentagon chose an international group that includes British and Italian manufacturers, rather than Sikorsky, to build Marine One, the presidential helicopter.

Picture the following scenario: the United States has information that terrorists are meeting in a foreign country to plot an attack on American soil. We know where the group will be meeting, but the country is a hostile one and its government is not offering any help. We have a number of options at our disposal. We can try to learn information from the meeting by monitoring phone calls, radio transmissions, email messages, and other communications. We can organize a lightning-quick strike by special forces to capture or kill the terrorists. Or we can launch a precision missile attack.