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I am sorry about Rosie Rhodes closing. I admit, sometimes when my home on St. Thomas was rattling from the bombing on Viequies, I wasn't happy. It did a lot more than ripple a rum and coke at a resort, but the benefits were huge also.

The ideas of many here are scary. We gave away The Panama Canal and have very little defense in the area. Right now Venezuela is a problem. One of our largest refineries is on St. Croix. Drug trafficking (money to terrorist) needs watching.

Over many years, I watched the visiting military have a very positive influence on the youth of the Islands. This probably changed the lives of many. The pride these kids felt about being an American, after visiting one of our ship was wonderful. They have memories of beach parties with American Sailors and other events. The American Military is the best public relations we can have in this area.

"It did a lot more than ripple a rum and coke at a resort, but the benefits were huge."

Oh please, do thrill us with a few tales of the tremendous damage wrought on the island of St. Thomas by the Naval maneuvers on Vieques.

Wheeee, now that's what the U.S. Navy should be doing in the Caribbean, public relations. The U.S. Navy should be giving ship tours and throwing beach parties for Caribbean island youth. We should just forget about that silly old training.

LOL!