To say the people of Utah heaved a sigh of relief Friday would be an understatement. They apparently sighed hard enough to blow a week's worth of rain clouds out of the state.

Hill Air Force Base has survived.

At least, it has survived the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, which issued its list of recommended closures early in the day Friday. The political process, of course, has yet to begin. And anything can happen once it does. Ultimately, Congress and the president must make the final decision on which bases close and which remain.

It's hard to forget what happened a decade ago when Hill survived a similar process only to be put in jeopardy when President Clinton, worried about base closures in politically powerful California and Texas, came up with the idea of "privatizing in place," which would have kept those bases open and operating as private facilities that contract with the government. It also would have removed much of the need for Hill.

But this is a new era. President Clinton, who ultimately failed to get his plan approved, no longer is in office. Representatives from states that are recommended to lose bases are likely to raise a lot of noise, but chances seem good that these recommendations will be approved.

That's more than good — it's remarkable, given Utah's size and lack of clout. The recommendations would keep Hill, Dugway Proving Ground and the Tooele Army Depot alive. Only the Deseret Chemical Depot, the home to a chemical weapons destruction facility, was recommended for closure. But it already was scheduled to close once the weapons are all destroyed.

Much has been made of Hill's importance to the local economy, including its contribution of about $4 billion annually and about 24,000 jobs. But perhaps just as important as this is its psychological role. When the 388th Fighter Wing and the 4th and 421st Tactical Fighter Squadrons are deployed to hot spots around the world, it gives Utahns a sense of pride; a feeling that we all are contributing in some way to the cause of freedom.

On Friday, politicians were praising the workers at Hill for making the base efficient and necessary. The people, meanwhile, were looking to their political leaders with thanks for getting the word out — leaders that include former Rep. Jim Hansen, who is a member of the closure commission. There are plenty of well-deserved plaudits to go around.

But the next few months will demand the best political skills of Utah's delegation to make sure the final vote in Congress reflects this recommendation.