New London - U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman said during a brief visit to the city this afternoon that he believes the Naval Submarine Base in Groton will likely avoid a repeat appearance on the Pentagon's list of recommended base closures.

"I think the odds of the base being on the BRAC list again are thank god low," Lieberman said in a meeting with The Day's editorial board, using the acronym for the Defense Base Realignment and Closure process.

"But eternal vigilance and preparation is the price of making sure that nobody tries to close the sub base again," he added.

Lieberman's trip to New London followed a meeting earlier in the morning of a coalition that hopes to keep the sub base off the closure list.

Connecticut's senior Senior said he remains optimistic because of his recent meeting in Washington with Admiral Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations. The admiral assured Lieberman, fellow Senator Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd, that while there a shifting of focus toward the Asian-Pacific region, he believes the Groton base remains crucial.

"He feels very strongly that the Groton-New London sub base is not excess capacity," Lieberman said. "It is a vital, critically-necessary base for the Navy's needs and for America's national security."

The Senator continued:

"So I was encouraged by that. But we've learned before you can't rest at all until the process starts, the list comes out, and we're [not] on the list."