Key line in the article cited in the OP:
"No such congressional approval is needed to close or consolidate bases overseas"
Robert Gates, the recent SoS Def, puts in very black & white terms in his memoir Duty, the aggravation created by Congressmen when he tried to cut bases, manning, or procurement on their home turf.
Russia probably cannot afford its current level of defence spending, but at least Putain gets a lot of political reward for his roubles.