Stupid Puerto Ricans! Do not pass GO!

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-07-21 04:12pm

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030 ... -5820r.htm

End of live bombing at Vieques makes base, jobs expendable

By James G. Lakely
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Stopping the U.S. Navy from conducting live-fire bombing exercises on the tiny Puerto Rican island of Vieques was a hot cause for leftist activists, Hollywood stars and Democrats in Congress in 2001.
The pressure ultimately led to President Bush deciding to end 60 years of live bombing at Vieques — the final wisps of smoke blew in May — and conduct exercises elsewhere, such as the Florida Keys and the North Carolina coast.
But the victory in the Battle of Vieques came at a steep price to the people of Puerto Rico and created a largely unforeseen consequence, the closing of Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, the island's largest employer.
"If you take the [bombing] mission away from Vieques, you don't need that base anymore," said Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, California Republican. "Sometimes you get what you wish for."
Tucked into the Defense spending bill for 2004 is a provision that will close the base six months after the bill is signed by Mr. Bush. The sprawling base, which once stationed more than 7,000 sailors and employs thousands of Puerto Ricans in support jobs, injects $250 million into the local economy.
"Sure, [Puerto Rico] would like to have the money, but we have other priorities," said Rep. Jerry Lewis, California Republican and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee. "Many of the protesting organizations had an idea" the base could be closed, "but probably not so quickly."
Rep. John P. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat and ranking member of the defense subcommittee, said the Navy insisted that without live bombing exercises on Vieques, the base is not worth keeping.
"The Navy is overly committed all over the world, and they need these 3,000 people in other places," Mr. Murtha said.
Rep. Jose E. Serrano, New York Democrat, is outraged at what he calls the "arrogance" of the Navy. He said the people of Puerto Rico are "panicked" about their future without what is affectionately called "Rosey Roads."
"I think it's punishment" for the protests, Mr. Serrano said. "We are being punished for winning an issue against the federal government. The Navy said, 'Oh yeah. We're going to fix you. We're going to close the base.' "
Sen. James M. Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he feels sorry for the people of Puerto Rico but that they were "lied to by their politicians" and the protest movement.
"Puerto Rico used every unethical and illegal means to kick us off that live range," Mr. Inhofe said.
The Senate passed its version of the defense appropriations bill last week. It did not contain language closing the base, but Mr. Inhofe said he expects the base-closing provision to survive in the final version to emerge from conference committee in the coming weeks.
The property containing Roosevelt Roads has been appraised at $1.7 billion. After an environmental cleanup, which could cost around $300 million, the property will be sold with the proceeds going to the Department of Defense.
Mr. Inhofe said not training at Vieques has increased the cost of necessary live-fire exercises elsewhere and has decreased the training's effectiveness because it is harder to integrate the exercises among the services. The Vieques property has been turned over to the Interior Department, which will retain possession.
"There's a huge cost associated with losing that range," Mr. Inhofe said.
Mr. Lewis told Delegate Anibal Acevedo-Vila, Puerto Rico Democrat, that he would "give all the support we possibly can" to replace the economic loss of the base closing. Mr. Murtha said previous base closings have come with $50 million to $100 million aid packages.
Acevedo-Vila spokesman Paul Weiss would not disclose what kind of aid will be sought for Puerto Rico, and still held out hope the Navy would reconsider "rushing away from such a strategic location."
Mr. Cunningham said he would oppose any aid package to make up for Roosevelt Roads.
"They don't want us there," Mr. Cunningham said. "They had a chance to become a state and declined. They don't pay taxes."
Mr. Inhofe said it's now too late to start worrying about the "natural outcome" of the Vieques protests.
"That's their problem," Mr. Inhofe said. "The time for them to be concerned about that was when they were kicking us off our range. I told them this would happen."

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-07-21 04:57pm

God bless the law of unintended consequences.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-21 04:58pm

Haha, you order shit, you eat shit! Fucking idiots, I'm sick and tired of Puerto Rico's shit. They've had it too good for too long.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-07-21 05:00pm

Durran Korr wrote:Haha, you order shit, you eat shit! Fucking idiots, I'm sick and tired of Puerto Rico's shit. They've had it too good for too long.

Agreed. Become a state and pay taxes or get the fuck out.

StarshipTitanic · Post by **StarshipTitanic** » 2003-07-21 05:02pm

How does Puerto Rico make a living, tourism?

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-21 05:03pm

RedImperator wrote:
Durran Korr wrote:Haha, you order shit, you eat shit! Fucking idiots, I'm sick and tired of Puerto Rico's shit. They've had it too good for too long.
Agreed. Become a state and pay taxes or get the fuck out.

They didn't want to become a state because they thought it would mean the erosion of their culture. The gall on these little fucktards...although, it would be nice if the government wouldn't enable this kind of behavior.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-21 05:04pm

StarshipTitanic wrote:How does Puerto Rico make a living, tourism?

Yes, the majority of the economy is tourism. There is an agricultural sector but it's not nearly important as tourism is.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-07-21 05:11pm

"It is punishment."

Oh I'd like to strangle this fucking loon. What'd he think the base was for but to support the test range? Why would they keep it open without it?

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-07-21 05:34pm

Ah, the sounds of carping, whining morons.... music to my ears.

I've got to wonder what the fuck they were thinking? They've got to know exactly what that base was for and then they bitch when the base was closed. Fuck, they should have thought about it a little more if they needed the jobs so badly.

It's not punishment; it's closing a base that no longer has a purpose. A purpose they took away.

StarshipTitanic · Post by **StarshipTitanic** » 2003-07-21 05:35pm

Let's sign a 20 year lease with Spain on Puerto Rico which can only be canceled if they decide to become a state. Sit back and watch the fireworks.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-21 05:39pm

Even if it was just pure punishment, which it clearly isn't, I wouldn't mind. They would still be getting what they deserve.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-07-21 05:43pm

[NELSON LAUGH] Haw haw [/NELSON LAUGH]

Base closures are a way of life, if you piss of the the military they can find a more friendly community elsewhere. WTF do these protestors think? That if you end live fire excercises the Navy and Marines would use the base for something else? Hmmm...no.

I think the idea of a territory is obsolete. Give them 5 years to decide statehood vs. independence.

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2003-07-21 05:53pm

I agree 100%. They ended the purpose for the base. Therefore no need for the base.

Like if say, electric cars suddenly wide scale avialable and cheap and not needed oil or gas or anything like that, I think everyone would switch. We wouldn't be punishing the oil countries, just oil has no purpose anymore. (I'm assuming if electric cars are wide scale avialable and cheap, so is the technology to say, replace oil in other vechiles)

no reason for base, no base. Therefore nothing connected to the base.

Ah. People that don't think things through.

If it wasn't for them, I would have no fun at parties

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-07-21 06:50pm

I hate to be cliche, but be careful what you wish for, it may come true.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-07-21 07:39pm

Eat shit and die, Puerto Rico.

Lonestar · Post by **Lonestar** » 2003-07-21 08:20pm

Eglin AFB, where the MOAB was tested, if going to pick up the slack I understand.

That and Camp Lejune, NC.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2003-07-21 09:11pm

I say state hood or we sever all ties and let em be independant. Lets do that with all territorys (i think there are like 2 others still). They get us citizenship tax free.

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2003-07-21 09:18pm

Fish or cut bait, Puerto Rico.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-21 09:41pm

Come to think of it, why do we still have Puerto Rico as a commonwealth? We receive absolutely no benefit from it, while the Puerto Ricans reap enormous benefits, which they are apparently ungrateful for. I'm surprised there isn't a stronger movement in the States to either kick their asses out on the street unless they become a state.

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2003-07-21 10:03pm

Durran Korr wrote:Come to think of it, why do we still have Puerto Rico as a commonwealth? We receive absolutely no benefit from it, while the Puerto Ricans reap enormous benefits, which they are apparently ungrateful for. I'm surprised there isn't a stronger movement in the States to either kick their asses out on the street unless they become a state.

Because nobody really gives a shit about Puerto Rico?

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-21 10:07pm

Iceberg wrote:
Durran Korr wrote:Come to think of it, why do we still have Puerto Rico as a commonwealth? We receive absolutely no benefit from it, while the Puerto Ricans reap enormous benefits, which they are apparently ungrateful for. I'm surprised there isn't a stronger movement in the States to either kick their asses out on the street unless they become a state.
Because nobody really gives a shit about Puerto Rico?

They ought to. Puerto Rico is completely free-riding off of us for nothing in return.

Rubberanvil · Post by **Rubberanvil** » 2003-07-21 10:14pm

darthdavid wrote:I say state hood or we sever all ties and let em be independant. Lets do that with all territorys (i think there are like 2 others still).

The other territories are more or less small specks of land with a noticably large US military presence on them, except the US Virgin Islands IIRC.

Jadeite · Post by **Jadeite** » 2003-07-21 11:05pm

Hehe, karmas a bitch aint it?

Alan Bolte · Post by **Alan Bolte** » 2003-07-21 11:17pm

Erosion of their culture? That's a laugh. They don't even speak spanish half the time, and most of the road signs are in english, as I recall. Their culture seems to consist entirely of the poor setting up little restaurant shacks all in one area while the better off dress up to go hang around in malls. It's as bad as saying the US has some kind of culture other than the current fad and those things that prove necessary.
Besides, why does everyone care so much about 'erosion of culture'? What's wrong with change? You're gonna change in some way eventually, it's just a question of how long before you can't identify with your ancestors, or even yourself a decade ago.

Although frankly, it's late, and I have a strong feeling that I won't know what I mean tomarrow.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-07-21 11:25pm

Durran Korr wrote:Come to think of it, why do we still have Puerto Rico as a commonwealth? We receive absolutely no benefit from it, while the Puerto Ricans reap enormous benefits, which they are apparently ungrateful for. I'm surprised there isn't a stronger movement in the States to either kick their asses out on the street unless they become a state.

I think PR is too remote for many Americans. It seldom makes the news where I live and I dont think many Puerto Ricans live here compared to places like NY.