Gov. M. Jodi Rell says she must approve any realignment of National Guard bases in the state.

That makes sense; Gov. Rell is commander in chief of the Connecticut National Guard.

Rell Monday sued Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Rumsfeld had recommended relocating to Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Mass., nine of the state's 17 A-10 Thunderbolt jet fighters from the 103rd Fighter Wing at Bradley International Airport and retiring the rest. The BRAC Commission did not challenge that recommendation.

But U.S. District Judge Alfred Covello said not so fast.

At the same time the BRAC Commission was agreeing with Rumsfeld, a federal judge ruled in favor of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who had argued that the Pentagon needs his approval to realign his state's National Guard.

Rell's lawsuit is similar to Rendell's. She argues that the National Guard has evolved from the original state militia, and both the state and federal constitutions support Connecticut's right to command its militia.

If Rumsfeld has his way, she will lose 384 Guard members.

Covello has issued a temporary restraining order and has scheduled a hearing Sept. 7.

While this region's attention had been focused on the fate of the U.S. Submarine Base at New London -- unsuccessfully targeted by Rumsfeld -- the same spirit of bipartisanship is evident in Rell's action.

Republican Rell was joined in the suit by Democratic U.S. Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman, and U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District.

Rell, Dodd and Lieberman were key players in arguing on behalf of the sub base. Here, they are on the side of right.

A state governor is commander of its National Guard. The federal government can intervene only in the case of war, as in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It seems clear that Rumsfeld has no business relocating Connecticut troops and equipment to Massachusetts.