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View Full Version : Complain about naval base. They leave. Oops jobs go with it!

Zero Signal
Jul 28th, 2003, 04:13 PM
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,93029,00.html

For several years, Puerto Rican protesters demanded that the U.S. Navy leave the island of Vieques (search). Groups staged violent protests outside the main gate of "Camp Garcia," saying they were sick and tired of the live-fire bombing exercises.

The violence resulted in the gates of the base being torn down. Several U.S. troops and police dogs were injured in the demonstrations.

In response to the years of protest, former President Clinton agreed to stop Navy exercises there. Congress and President Bush ratified the deal and live-fire exercises were halted last May. But with its mission muzzled after 60 years, the Navy has decided to pull out of Puerto Rico completely.

That means the largest employer on the island, the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station (search), is now slated for closure that could come as early as October.

Island workers are accusing the Navy of economic revenge.

YOU. FUCKING. IDIOTS. :rolleyes

Just STFU, please. People around the world jump on the piss and moan about the US bandwagon, then when we do finally leave they realize that the jobs leave with it and then proceed to bitch some more.
AChimp
Jul 28th, 2003, 05:02 PM
What do you expect for people who sit around in the sun all day? :rolleyes
El Blanco
Jul 28th, 2003, 05:32 PM
A whole lot of complaining from a bunch of people who enjoy the rights of americans but pay no federal income tax.
Jeanette X
Jul 28th, 2003, 05:41 PM
I think that they just wanted the Navy to stop the live-fire excercises, not leave entirely. I don't think that not being able to do live-fire excercises is a good reason to shut down an ENTIRE base, do you?
El Blanco
Jul 28th, 2003, 05:50 PM
Why else was the base there? It has no strategic value. Its the Navy, not a fucking charity.
AChimp
Jul 28th, 2003, 05:55 PM
Exactly. Beggars can't be choosers.
The One and Only...
Jul 28th, 2003, 06:15 PM
I don't think that not being able to do live-fire excercises is a good reason to shut down an ENTIRE base, do you?

Yeeeeeeeeeeep.
mburbank
Jul 29th, 2003, 11:47 AM
I have no idea what functions the base completed, but I bet when they worked out their annual budget they never wrote

"All we're about is live fire excercises. Everything else is just Pentagon waste, but thanks. "
GAsux
Jul 29th, 2003, 03:40 PM
A live fire range requires a significant amount of support. The operation and maintenenace of the range requires a whole host of support facilities which include billeting, chow halls, etc for range operators, spotters, and all the associated support personnel.

Many of the day to day jobs (ie cleaning, maintenance, food service) are all contracted out to the civilian population. The DoD has many ranges that are solely dedicated to live fire training including Arizona and Nevada. Certainly those ranges have other associated facilities, but they are primarily in support of range operations. It's entirely feasible to have a facility whose sole purpose is range training.
mburbank
Jul 29th, 2003, 04:05 PM
I bow to your more signifcant knowledge of the subject.