One of the messes George W. Bush inherited was the Puerto Rican Island of Vieques. In the waning years of the Clinton Administration, protesters demanded the U.S. Navy abandon bombing and naval gun fire exercises there. It became a leftist cause. Liberals bumped into each other to fly to Puerto Rico and get arrested: AI Sharpton, Robert Kennedy Jr., Edward James Olmos, Mrs. Jesse Jackson, just to name a few. Mrs. Clinton, running for Senate, played to the Puerto Rican population of New York and criticized the Pentagon for not caving, which her husband then did, ordering a phase-out of the facility. The Bush administration reluctantly decided to close the range contrary to the recommendations -of the Navy. So last week marked the Navy's final bombing exercises. Protesters showed up waving Puerto Rican flags and shouting, "Navy Get Out!" Well, they're getting out. In fact, now Navy officials are talking about closing the major support base. That's right; there goes the Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station, one of Puerto Rico's largest employers, estimated to pump over $300 million dollars into the local economy every year. Suddenly, the governor says, "Wait a minute! The people of Puerto Rico don't have any interest in the closing of the Roosevelt Roads base. The government of Puerto Rico is interested in that base staying in Puerto Rico for all the Economic benefits." No doubt Madam Mayor," Admiral Robert Natter, the Commander of the Atlantic Fleet, says. "Without Vieques there's no way I need the Navy facilities at Roosevelt Roads. None." So, Yankee go home? Fine! But we're gonna take our money with us. Sort of like, hasta la vista baby! Cheers, Go Navy... Go America! P.S. The Army is moving The Southern Command to Ft. Sam, in Texas KaChing!!! Back to Dispatch March 2003 Table of Contents Back to Dispatch List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by HMGS Mid-South This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com