John Stossel - Should Navy Close Unused Base in Puerto Rico?

[Kodiak]

John Stossel sent this e-mail to me today about his upcoming feature on Friday night's episode of 20/20...


From the John Stossel email:
"This Friday's "Give Me a Break" is about the protests over the proposal to close the Roosevelt Roads Navy base in Puerto Rico.

For 60 years, American troops based at Roosevelt Roads learned about warfare by dropping bombs on Vieques Island, 10 miles off the coast. But after people on Vieques, and activists like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Robert Kennedy Jr., and New York politicians like Governor George Pataki, Representative Charles Rangel, Representative Jose Serrano, and Senator Hillary Clinton complained that the bombing was dangerous, the Navy was ordered to find another place to hold its bombing exercises — and it did, off the coast of Florida.

So now the Navy wants to close Roosevelt Roads. Admiral Robert Natter told us, "If I can't do that training in Puerto Rico, I quite frankly don't need the facilities there."

So now the politicians are upset again. It's as if some of the protesters want bombs to stop falling from the sky, but want the money to keep coming.

Give me a break."

[Aoidoi]

They reap what they sow.

[Tmy]

I cant stand Stossel. I think its that phoney delivery of his. Plus he's hardly fair and balanced.

I would think that the base has strategic value. Maybe someone is playing games as a way of revenge against these politicians. I find it very strange that the Navy would activly seek to close any of their bases.

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by Tmy


I would think that the base has strategic value.

Why would you think that?

Is Admiral Natter lacking some important information that you have?

[aerocontrols]

Originally posted by Tmy
I cant stand Stossel. I think its that phoney delivery of his. Plus he's hardly fair and balanced.

I would think that the base has strategic value. Maybe someone is playing games as a way of revenge against these politicians. I find it very strange that the Navy would activly seek to close any of their bases.


I don't find it strange at all. Military brass is almost never the force that keeps an obsolete base in existence.

MattJ

[fishbob]

The military closes bases they don't need all the time. It is always a blow to the local economy. Why should this base be any different?
However it takes 5 to 15 years to complete the closures, because of the transfer of valuable equipment, environmental cleanup, and real estate disposition.

[Jedi Knight]

Puerto Rico needs to stop whining. They complained about 3 or 4 bombs being dropped on Viques every year.

We need to start taxing Puerto Rico like a state. That after we close the military base to end the Puerto Rico subversion of our military readiness.

JK

[a_unique_person]

Talk about twisting a pretty simple story around. The people on the island don't want the bombing, much as the people on Okinawa don't want a base their either.

It is some of the people in the rest of Peuto Rico who want the base open. They get the economic benefit, without having to put up with the hassle. Peurto Ricans are not a bunch of Borgs.

[corplinx]

I think this is a simple matter, if there is no strategic objective there (they won't let us test there) and hence the base is a waste we should close it.

People bashed Clinton for closing bases but it was a good move. The old base system was based on older assumptions including repelling an invasion.

My only beef was when base closing became political and Clinton gave some clemency to not lose votes. But hey, hes a politician, whaddya expect.

If the base in puerto rico is no longer useful, close it. It doesnt matter what some puerto rican businessman thinks who make money from base personnel. Tough ****.

[Lemastre]

The U.S. Navy's presence at one end of Vieques has kept the island largely undeveloped. It makes a good vacation spot for those who prefer less commercialism. With bombing stopped and the Navy gone, developers can move in and turn the island into a real tourist trap. Puerto Rico might thereby recoup a lot of the money the Navy takes with it when it closes its base.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by Tmy
I cant stand Stossel. I think its that phoney delivery of his. Plus he's hardly fair and balanced.


Yeah, I agree. I hate how he tends to make the woo-woos look bad.