U.S. Will Close Puerto Rico Naval Base

AP | 9/23/03

[kattracks]

The Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Sept. 23 — The United States will close its Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in eastern Puerto Rico within the next six months, the territory's congressional delegate said Tuesday. Congress and President Bush are expected to sign off on the closure by the end of next week, said Anibal Acevado Vila, the U.S. territory's nonvoting congressional delegate. The Pentagon did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

The base's closure comes after several years of protests against U.S. military exercises in Vieques, which ended with the Navy's May 1 withdrawal from its bombing range on that tiny outlying island.

The United States set up Roosevelt Roads and the Vieques bombing range in the 1940s and used it to prepare for international conflicts from World War II to the war in Afghanistan.

Roosevelt Roads was the site of the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility, which oversaw the exercises on Vieques.

Tensions between the Navy and locals heightened, however, when two errant bombs in 1999 killed a civilian guard on Vieques. Opponents said the bombing harmed the environment, the health of the island's 9,100 residents and its sole industries of fishing and tourism.

The Navy maintains the exercises never posed a health threat, but it turned to inert ammunition following the fatal accident.

Since 1999, more than 1,000 people including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Rev. Al Sharpton and actor Edward James Olmos have been arrested for breaking onto Navy lands to thwart the exercises.

Gov. Sila Calderon wanted Roosevelt Roads to remain open even after the end to Vieques military exercises.

Roosevelt Roads, which began laying off some of its 6,300 employees in April, injects an estimated $300 million a year into the U.S. Caribbean territory's economy.

Acevado Vila, who is running for governor in 2004 from Calderon's People's Democratic Party, said the base's closure would open opportunities for tourism and other investment.

[nwrep]

GREAT NEWS. Atlas Shrugged. Now these idiot Puerto Ricans can go back to selling Tacos and watching reruns of I Love Lucy.

[Fred Mertz]

Oh no! Not Rosey Roads.

I spent a few days there way back when.

[Semper Paratus]

selling Tacos

Empanadas, whatever.

[Pukin Dog]

I'll bet our bombs are looking pretty sweet to them now?

I hope they like having Cuba's economy. Watch out for the sharks while you are FISHING for a living.

[Texas_Dawg]

That's a good start. Cutting all ties with that place should come next.

[El Conservador]

Acevado Vila, who is running for governor in 2004 from Calderon's People's Democratic Party, said the base's closure would open opportunities for tourism and other investment.

Wishful thinking...

[Dog Gone]

Acevado Vila, who is running for governor in 2004 from Calderon's People's Democratic Party, said the base's closure would open opportunities for tourism and other investment.

$300 million worth?

[TheFrog]

Been There, Done That, No need to go Back.

[Noachian]

Roosevelt Roads, which began laying off some of its 6,300 employees in April, injects an estimated $300 million a year into the U.S. Caribbean territory's economy

Cafeful what you wish for - you may get it.

[Husker24]

Calderon's People's Democratic Party

When ever there is a "peoples" before "Democratic" thats a dead commie give away.

[oyez]

I spent a few days there way back when.

Me too. I was in transit to St Croix for a TAD assignment. On the trip back to NAS KWEST we blew an aux fuil pump and had to stop for another night. Back in the days of the Red Menace Rosey used to be a busy place and so was other bases in the region.

[TheBattman]

Is there a particular reason for keeping Puerto Rico as a US Territory (and the multi-billion dollar loss to the taxpayers for it)? This is particularly a good question in light of the proposed base closing.

[Lou L]

Me too. Ditto. RR was like a second home port for my ship. In my younger days, I got to enjoy those trips--the warm sun, aquamarine-colored water, and cheap Bacardi rum--$3 a half-gallon!

Any sailors remember that club, just off base? The Lighthouse, I believe? We could party in that place until 3 or 4 in the morning, then stumble back to the base. Only problem was, you desperately hoped to hitch a ride: the front gate was something like 10 miles from the piers. If you were lucky (or maybe not so lucky, you'd find a street vendor selling mystery meat on a stick!)

[EO1TopDawg]

I just thought I would join the rest of the Dogs and say, "They don't want us preparing for their defense, they don't want statehood... they are about as bad as a crack whore on welfare"

[txzman]

Isn't it great to see that those nice young Democrats like Jesse Jackson, Martin Sheen, Tim Robbins and others were successful in helping Puerto Rico lose TWO US Bases and more than $16 Million in payrolls and expenses?

Life's a bitch when you get what you whined and stamped your feet for! My guess is the next town and state will be a little more cooperative with the US Military.

[EO1TopDawg]

Sorry Dog_Gone, didn't mean to leave you out.

[UNGN]

I wonder what Rev'd Al's position is on this?

I can see him on the docks now with his bullhorn as the last ship departs "Come back!!! I didn't mean it!!! I was just pullin' a Tawanna!! You didn't think I MEANT it?"

[.cnI redruM]

Thank you!! I've been dissappointed with Rumsfeld of late, but he's right on with this decision. A military base is for the purpose of helping us win. It is not a social welfare program.

And also. I actually applaud the Dem Governor for looking for constructive alternatives instead of whinning about losing a base.

[randog]

...the base's closure would open opportunities for tourism and other investment.

There was an article some time back when the locals found out that the bombing would stop--Hurray, we won!--then found out that the bases would close--wh-wh-whaaat?!!! They can't do that...can they?!!! Lots of pissin' and moanin' when that other shoe dropped.