Navy Sets To Close Puerto Rico Base

NY Times via Early Bird ^ | 1-5-03

[mikenola]

Update and new details

The Blog That Care Forgot

[Support Free Republic]

	Linda Carter is completely unrelated to Free Republic. But if I am going to have to post donation begs until the Freepathon is over, I'm going to occasionally post something I want! And there is only one way you can stop me!

[Semper Paratus]

``I don't see Puerto Rico progressing. I see Puerto Rico going backward.''

In 10 years PR is going to resemble Panama.

[2banana]

President Bush recently named a 16-member panel to re-evaluate Puerto Rico's status, under which islanders pay no U.S. income taxes but receive $14 billion yearly in federal funds.

Martes said she fears the U.S. government has decided ``if they don't want us, then we don't need them.''

YOU ARE DAMN STARIGHT ABOUT THAT!

[KantianBurke]

To those bitching about how the loss of the base affects their pocketbook I'd have them know that the loss of a great training facility for our troops is what SHOULD merit our concern. As for those now out of work, what did YOU do when Al Sharpton and all the other commies were deriding the base? Did you speak up in support of the base? No? TS then.

[camle]

sounds like yanqi went home. be careful what you ask for....

[50sDad]

2000: "Oh, no! Horrible firing range, bad firing range! Yankee Go Home!"

2004: "Dude! Where's my economic base?"

[x1stcav]

The base is named after former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who ordered its construction in 1940, and after the roads that crisscross its 8,600 acres.

Some of these writers have quaint ideas indeed.

I'll wager that the more likely source of the 'Roads' in Rossevelt Roads comes from the nautical meaning of a safe offshore anchorage.

[FreedomPoster]

I wouldn't bet against you on that one.

[SBprone]

It's time to cut Puerto Rico loose. If there's a good reason keep them or make them a state then let Puerto Ricans argue the case if they want to.

If enough of them really wanted to be Americans it would be a done deal. But I don't think that's what they want.

[BlueLancer]

I do believe you're right ...

Otherwise, how would they explain Hampton Roads?

"Hampton Roads
Related: United States Miscellaneous Geography

roadstead, 4 mi (6.4 km) long and 40 ft (12.2 m) deep, SE Va., through which the waters of the James, Nansemond, and Elizabeth rivers pass into Chesapeake Bay. One of the finest natural harbors in the world, it has been a major anchorage point since colonial times and has extensive harbor facilities and shipyards; Newport News and Hampton are on the north shore and Norfolk and Portsmouth on the south. The Port of Hampton Roads, established in 1926 under the State Port Authority of Virginia, is one of the busiest U.S. seaports. Hampton Roads has long been important to the U.S. navy; Norfolk is headquarters for the Atlantic Fleet. A vehicular tunnel (7,479 ft/2,280 m) under the roads opened in 1957. Hampton Roads was the site of the Civil War battle (Mar., 1862) between the ironclads Monitor and Merrimack .

[G.Mason]

"In 10 years PR is going to resemble Panama."

While stationed at "Roosy Roads" [1962, building an air strip for the Marines with MCB-6] it resembled Panama then.

There were areas that U.S. personnel had better stay out of.

Sad for the "friendlies".

Let the rest of them eat cake!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The PR's should review the Philippines' experience when the US Navy pulled out.

[pabianice]

More economic devastation from the red latte' sippers in Seattle and San Francisco.

[RebelBanker]

The last time the citizens there voted for their status, they overwhelmingly chose to maintain their commonwealth status. There is a small but noisy independence movement and a somewhat larger and very determined statehood movement, but the vast majority of the people seem satisfied with the status quo.

BTW, Puerto Rico has an official language. English.

[USNA74]

You're right on target. As the old saying goes, "be careful what you ask for".

[Cold Heat]

PR, with much help from the socialists in the U.S. decided to take on Uncle Sam.

The PR commies don't want the base. The locals don't want America there, but everyone wants jobs and money.

Now they will have neither.

They will be boat people types before long and new recruits for Ossama.

A shame really, but what can ya do? LOL! it was not long ago that they could have been the 52nd state.

Now they are but knocked over dead pawns in the war of all wars against the U.S..

[gunnrmike]

I have many fond memories of Don's Lighthouse, the OBA and parties at the EOD and SEAL's compound. Vieques has some of the prettiest beaches in the Carribean.

Sad,

Gunnrmike

[Conservative_Nationalist]

We should stop giving those people 14 billion a year. That's our money and it should be going back into our pockets or at least going toward something that benefits our Nations interest.

[jimfree]

They might be able to turn the corner economically. Sad to see it though. In 1981 I did Naval Gunfire Support (NGFS) quals off of Vieques. I was the director officer for the 5 inch 54 on the frigate Patterson. Later in the decade I made some IG visits to Roosevelt Roads. What a great place to visit it was. Here's hoping they can do the tourist thing.