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Vieques Editorials
No More Bombs
THE MIAMI HERALD - EDITORIAL
December 11, 1999
Copyright © 1999 THE MIAMI HERALD. All Rights Reserved.
President Clinton's proposed compromise to phase out the Navy
bombing on Vieques island is, typically, too little, too late.
Last week he offered to stop live-fire exercises on the Puerto
Rican island and close the firing range in five years, although
target practice with dummy bombs would resume this spring.
Under different circumstances -- say, 10 years ago prior to
the United States reneging on other promises -- the offer might
be acceptable.
But Puerto Ricans have had enough of Washington's promises,
and rightly demand no less than a cessation of the exercises altogether
-- and immediately.
If President Clinton accedes to the demands, as he should,
at least there is precedent for doing so. Under similar circumstances,
former President George Bush abandoned live-fire exercises nine
years ago on the Hawaiian Island of Kahoolawe.
Puerto Ricans Won A Considerable
Victory
THE ORLANDO SENTINEL - EDITORIAL
December 7, 1999
Copyright © 1999 THE ORLANDO SENTINEL. All Rights Reserved.
To a predictable uproar, President Bill Clinton has instructed
the Navy to resume limited training in the spring, while restraining
it from using real bombs and cutting back on other activities.
He also plans to phase out the base during the next five years.
Puerto Ricans should find that approach appealing, for it addresses
many of their concerns about safety at the test range. Yet many
have chosen to reject the president's decision and continue their
protest.
At present, nothing short of an immediate, complete U.S. military
withdrawal would satisfy the most vociferous critics.
Closing down the base wouldn't represent a compromise, though.
Moreover, such an extreme move would impair U.S. military capabilities.
Mr. Clinton's plan points to a sensible middle ground.
Puerto Ricans have underscored the political influence they
can muster. The Puerto Rican people's voice on the Vieques issue
-- which many people thought the U.S. government was ignoring
-- has been heard.
After a reasonable period of time to make other arrangements,
the Navy will vacate Vieques, leaving the island to Puerto Ricans.
Rather than continuing the protest, Puerto Ricans should recognize
that they have won a considerable victory.
Progress on Vieques
THE HARTFORD COURANT - EDITORIAL
December 8, 1999
Copyright © 1999 THE HARTFORD COURANT. All Rights Reserved.
President Clinton's order last week to end live-ammunition
target practice by the Navy on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques
fell short of the immediate halt to all bombing that residents
want. But it laid the groundwork for the Navy's full withdrawal
within five years, which is a step in the right direction.
Mr. Clinton's plan leaves it up to Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro J.
Rossello and the Navy to work out the details
The talks are not likely to go smoothlyBut the president's
five-year time line provides an opportunity for both sides to
soften their positions.
The Navy, meanwhile, is scheduled to stage another round of
training with so-called nonexplosive bombs in March. Under Mr.
Clinton's order, the Navy must negotiate the terms of that bombing
with the governor. The Navy is offering $40 million in economic
aid to demonstrate that it wants to repair relations with the
island.
That's an improvement from the past.
There is hope that a populated island will find some peace
after 58 years of testing bombs.
Navy Decision Was A Dud
THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION - EDITORIAL
December 8, 1999
Copyright © 1999 THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. All Rights Reserved.
The Navy's options for training are shrinking, after the president's
decision to give it half a loaf.
President Clinton said the Navy could continue training at
the island of Vieques for five years, as recommended by a presidential
commission.
However, he said the Navy and Marines can't use real bullets.
They must use inert weapons.
Military officials have said often that they need to use live
fire for realistic combat training.
Clinton's decision bows to the politicians in Puerto Rico who
are opposed to the continued use of Vieques. But those same politicians
certainly would howl loudly if the Navy proposed shutting down
NAS Roosevelt Roads, on the main island.
For now the Navy now can proceed with pretend-training. In
the meantime, it can either look for another training area or
try to placate the locals.
The Clinton solution also involves a $40 million payoff to
Puerto Rico.
For that price, the Navy at least should get title to the remaining
land on Vieques and relocate the residents, thereby removing the
conflict.
That may cost less than moving this unique training to another
site.
The commander in chief's decision may help garner a few votes
for his spouse, but it may come at the expense of people he sends
into hostile areas.
In Harm's Way
BOSTON HERALD - EDITORIAL
December 7, 1999
Copyright © 1999 BOSTON HERALD. All Rights Reserved.
In harm's way, unready fifty-eight years ago today at Pearl
Harbor, 2,300 soldiers, sailors and civilians lost their lives
because the U.S. Pacific Fleet was unprepared for war. Shamefully,
President Clinton decided last week to send young Americans into
harm's way, unprepared.
The aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower, its escorts and a Marine
amphibious group will be unable to conduct live- ammunition exercises
together before deploying to the Mediterranean in February. Why?
Because the president caved in to protesters in Puerto Rico who
want live-fire training on the nearby island of Vieques ended.
Vieques is the only place on the East Coast where warplanes, ships
and Marines can practice together using live ammunition.
"No," he said. The Navy probably can find another
site, but Vieques should be used in the meantime. The release
of Puerto Rican terrorists from prison shows that the president
will do anything to help his wife capture the Puerto Rican vote
in her Senate campaign in New York. To cut short necessary military
training to further such an end is an outrage.
Politics First, Servicemen
Second
NEW YORK POST - EDITORIAL
December 4, 1999
Copyright © 1999 N.Y.P. HOLDINGS, INC. All Rights Reserved.
We fully understand why the residents of the Puerto Rican island
of Vieques -- and Americans of Puerto Rican heritage in general
-- want an end to the military-training exercises that have been
carried out in their neighborhood for five decades: That's a long
time to be living with swooping airplanes, exploding ordinance
and related live-fire war games.
At the same time, it's hard to imagine willfully sending young
Americans into militarily hazardous situations without proper
training.
But that's precisely the order that President Clinton gave
the Pentagon yesterday. That is, he commanded that a U.S. Navy
carrier battle group and an accompanying seaborne Marine Corps
expeditionary unit be dispatched -- improperly trained -- to the
Mediterranean Sea early next year.
It is true that the president has given the Pentagon five years
to completely phase out the use of Vieques -- but the activists
who first raised the issue said immediately that any delay in
closing the training site is unacceptable to them.
Among them, of course, are leaders of New York's Puerto Rican
community -- and they've made it clear that their support of Hillary
Rodham Clinton's U.S. Senate candidacy is contingent on an end
to Vieques training. Now.
Anyone want to bet on which way our president will go?
Clinton's Offer Merits Study
SUN-SENTINEL, FT. LAUDERDALE - EDITORIAL
December 4, 1999
Copyright © 1999 THE MIAMI HERALD. All Rights Reserved.
At first glance, President Clinton's offer to the people of
Vieques looks tempting. In exchange for accepting a limited version
of Navy war games, the tiny island would get a $40 million economic
development package. The Navy also has agreed to abandon Vieques
in five years unless local residents want it to stay.
Clinton's Friday afternoon Vieques offer was promptly rejected
by Puerto Rico 's Gov. Pedro Rossello, a strong statehood advocate.
Rossello called the president's offer "unacceptable for the
people of Puerto Rico and the people of Vieques."
But it is ultimately the 9,300 people who live in Vieques who
must decide what is acceptable. Vieques residents have lived in
the shadow of war games for 60 years, and it is they who have
suffered the consequences.
President Bill Clinton has shown restraint by not ordering
the reopening of the Navy bombing range.
The Pentagon was opposed to this solution, and it's difficult
to argue with the assertion that U.S. troops must be combat ready
when they are sent to potential conflict areas.
Yet the Pentagon has not proven its case that Vieques is the
only place where the Atlantic fleet can train with live fire.
Nor has the Pentagon shown much sensitivity to the concerns of
Vieques' residents.
Clinton's decision gives the Navy and Puerto Rico more time
to negotiate and reach a possible compromise on a controversial
issue. To have live-fire training on Vieques now, when the majority
of Puerto Ricans reject it, would have been to invite widespread
civil disobedience and possible violent resistance in the U.S.
Commonwealth.
Vieques, which is part of Puerto Rico, has an offer from President
Clinton that needs to be studied in a climate of peace.
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