PUERTO RICO: PDP Lawmaker Says Closing Navy Facility In Ceiba Is Illegal (Oops, PR's mad)

The San Juan Star | March 1, 2003 | BY ROSARIO FAJARDO

[4Freedom]

Popular Democratic Party Sen. Juan Cancel Alegria said Friday Navy Adm. Robert J. Natter's decision to close the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads is illegal, citing the National Defense Authorization Act of 2001.

He also called on U.S. government officials to investigate the legality of the matter.

"Section 1504 of the Act is clear to the effect that the termination of training and related closures are specifically and exclusively limited to Vieques Naval Training Range. No authorization was granted to affect the rest of the AFWTF," Cancel Alegria said in a letter to several U.S. officials, including Secretary of Homeland Security Thomas Ridge and Hansford T. Johnson, acting secretary of the Navy.

"What is more, Adm. Natter's actions constitute a 'realignment' under 10 USC 2687, and, as such, expressly prohibited," he said.

Cancel Alegria's district includes Ceiba, where Roosevelt Roads is located.

According to the lawmaker, Natter issued an order about two or three weeks ago, for the demobilization and disestablishment" of the training facility "on or about March 9, 2003."

The lawmaker showed reporters a copy of several documents allegedly from Natter, ordering the demobilization.

"It is not economically and operationally feasible to continue battle group training in the Puerto Rico operating area...Directed to cease AFWTF operational and training support after the last scheduled event (on or about 9 Mar 03)," states one document.

Cancel Alegria said his office received the documents from union employees at the base.

Roosevelt Roads spokesman Oscar Seara said the training facility had been ordered "dismantled," but referred the STAR to Natter's office at the U.S. Atlantic Fleet headquarters in Norfolk, Va. However, officials there could not immediately be reached for comment.

Cancel Alegria says the decision to close the training facility also leaves the Navy fleet "without adequate training facilities because the fleet will not have equivalent or comparable training facilities available immediately or within a short period of time after the AFTWF is closed."

"It is uncontested that the AFWTF offers to the U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet unique characteristics which would be difficult, if not impossible, to replicate elsewhere," he said.

"For years, the AFWTF has been regarded as the 'premier training range for ensuring combat readiness of Atlantic Fleet Forces.' Now, suddenly and unexpectedly, the U.S. Navy no longer needs the AFWTF," he said.

[4Freedom]

Yep, definitely another tail thinking it can 'wag the dog'.

LOL!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

He also called on U.S. government officials to investigate the legality of the matter. "Section 1504 of the Act is clear to the effect that the termination of training and related closures are specifically and exclusively limited to Vieques Naval Training Range

"Well you got the bonus plan."

---Andrew Dice Clay

[Quix]

The Philipines have similarly been eating

their pride for breakfast, lunch and dinner since

so much military $$$$ left at their insistance.

[4Freedom]

Puerto Rico is always quick to invent more reasons we owe them.

But independence has never received more than 5% of the vote. ;^)

[4Freedom]

Puerto Rico seems to believe they have our 'Panderer-in-Chief' and his brother Jeb right where they want them, with all the PR voters they control in 'key' election states.

Only time will tell.

[Future Useless Eater]

The democratic trumped up 'flap' over the Vieques, was
politically timed, just like this one...

All this to create a new 'front page' story for the hispanic
newspapers to overshadow the Miguel Estrada Fillibuster!

[dfwgator]

For once and for all they need to have two choices instead of three. State or Independence. This "Commonwealth" crap has got to go.

[TADSLOS]

Sorry PR, you can't have it both ways.

[Quix]

I realize it's not possible once one gets above groups of 3 or more individuals . . .

But have you ever thought it would be grand to have a universe totally devoid of politics!?!

What hideous games we play.

What insanity.

Hawaii is not a great deal better off, it seems to me.

[witnesstothefall]

It is good to see the Navy doing its part for Welfare Reform. To the Puerto Rican's who scorned the US military, talk to the hand.

[Enemy Of The State]

Ha! This is great news! Puerto Rico takes it in the A$$! I guess nobody ever told them to be careful what you ask for...lol, you just might get it and then some!

[4Freedom]

"politically timed"

You have a point there.

Every Navy spokesman has always connected the closing of the Naval Base at Roosevelt Roads to the closing of Vieques over the years.

I've posted several articles over the past couple of years that detailed different development ideas for the bases after they were closed that were being floated out to and by the PR government.

This Cancel Algria should have been the last person on the whole island honestly surprised.

Maybe the corrupt Puerto Rican politicians and their Democrat co-conspirators are going to take another shot at shaking us down for their Section 956 tax, windfall scheme?

[Enemy Of The State]

They can have their precious POS island, we'll just take our ball and go home! Lol!

[4Freedom]

Statehood for Puerto Rico would hand our country over to the Liberal Democrats, forever.

Puerto Rico would send 2 more U.S. Senators and 4 to 6 U.S. Representatives to Congress and all of them would probably make Representative Luis Guitierrez look like a 'right-winger'.

Sorry, but PR for our money (and it is all of our money) it's only independence for you.

[4Freedom]

Hawaii isn't better off than Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico receives more federal dollars, more federal jobs and they their residents don't pay a dime in federal income tax.

[4Freedom]

"Sorry PR, you can't have it both ways."

Don't be so sure. We have to remain vigilant. There's another Presidential election coming up and there's a lot of PR voters in key states.

As I've said before, the children we have in charge will do anything for votes.

[4Freedom]

I hope our Uncle Sam isn't gonna get 'jack-rolled' on the way home from the park, again. ;^)

[4Freedom]

"...we'll just take our ball and go home."

I've got 'dibs' on that new $2 billion dollar urban train we just paid for down there.

I'm not sure where I'll put it, but they sure as hell don't deserve it. ;^)

[4Freedom]

The Navy just announced that it will close Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, now that the Navy's been kicked off Vieques, and the Puerto Ricans are going muy loco en la cabeza. ;^)

[Quix]

Goodness!

Wouldn't ever community love such a sweet deal.

Is it because of the UFO base there? The mass guilt played skillfully like a piano by the politicians there? What resulted in such a raging sweet deal?