Complain about naval base. They leave. Oops jobs go with it!

[Zero Signal]

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.

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]

What do you expect for people who sit around in the sun all day?

[El Blanco]

A whole lot of complaining from a bunch of people who enjoy the rights of americans but pay no federal income tax.

[Jeanette X]

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]

Why else was the base there? It has no strategic value. Its the Navy, not a fucking charity.

[AChimp]

Exactly. Beggars can't be choosers.

[The One and Only...]

Originally Posted by Jeanette X

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]

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]

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]

I bow to your more signifcant knowledge of the subject.