http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/aruba.htm
Progress continues on US Southern Command’s Forward Operating Locations (FOLs) to replace counterdrug aerial detection and monitoring missions formerly flown by DoD and interagency aircraft from Howard Air Force Base in Panama. Since 01 May 1999 the US has staged air operations from Curacao and Aruba, and Manta, Ecuador. The total numbers of hours on station were equal to or greater than when the US flew from Howard. Aruba is a drug-money-laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; added to the US list of major drug producing or drug transit countries in December 1996.
This parched speck of an island off the coast of Venezuela has guaranteed sunshine and is blessed with beaches that make you say 'ahhh.' Tourism is the big business here and it's served in a flavorsome double scoop of beach bunnies from North America and Holland, and Latin coastal coasters, nearly all of them on circuit-breaker trips to pep up winter suntans, prop at the poolside bar and try their luck at the casinos. Although large-scale tourism dominates the island (read: luxury resorts from here to sunset), there are still undeveloped areas on the exposed northern coast and much of the interior is inhabited by nothing more substantial than goats and contorted divi-divi trees. In this region, the triple whammy of a dry climate, salt-loaded seaspray and relentless trade winds has created a wonderfully surreal landscape with more than a passing resemblance to the images Pathfinder sent back to earth from Mars.
Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.
And thx for your service to this Country. We owe you more than we can ever repay. You'll have to make do with our respect. And the honor you and I know you deserve. Thx.