SHARKEY-IMAGES

Remember when Puerto Rico was raising hell about the US Navy using that nothing little island just off the coast of Puerto Rico for bombing practices, which they had used for the past 75 years? Demonstrations were held, Hollywood left wingers, Al Sharpton, and his fellow demagogues went down there to demonstrate to get the Navy out? I am sure it infuriated you just as it did me at the time. Wellllllllllllllll, here is our revenge

Always be careful what you ask for, you just may get it!

One of the many headaches that the U. S. has had was the Puerto Rican Island of Vieques. In the waning years of the Clinton Administration, Protesters demanded that the US Navy abandon bombing and naval gun fire exercises that had taken place on the largely uninhabited island for nearly seventy years. Liberal icons bumped into one another to fly to Puerto Rico, boat over to the island, trespass (but never on a day that there was an exercise

scheduled) and get arrested for the benefit of the New York Times or Newsweek. They included: Reverend Al Sharpton, Mrs. Jesse Jackson, Joan Baez, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Edward Olmos, Michael Moore and Ramsey Clark, just to name a few.

In 2002, the bombing exercises were transferred to an Air Force bombing range in central Florida, not far from the Jacksonville and Pensacola Naval Stations. In January, many of the protesters were back in Puerto Rico, celebrating the final bombing exercise on Vieques and waved Puerto Rican flags and placards that read

"U. S. Navy, get out of Puerto Rico."

The following Feb, Rumsfeld announced that the U. S. Navy will close the Rosevelt Roads Naval Air Station in Puerto Rico in 2004, eliminating 1200 civilian jobs as well as 700 military positions. This naval facility is estimated to have put nearly $300 million annually into the local economy.

The next day a stunned Governor Sila Calderon, held a news conference in San Juan, protesting the base closure as a serious blow to the Commonwealth's fragile economy. The governor stated that: "The people of Puerto Rico don't now or never did have an interest in closing the Vieques bombing range or the Roosevelt Roads naval base. We are interested in both staying in Puerto Rico."

When asked, the Commander-in Chief, Western Atlantic Command, said, "Without Vieques, I see no further need for the facility at Roosevelt Roads. None.” So, Yanqui go home? Fine. But we'll take our dollars with us. Hasta la vista, baby!

On February 21, the Secretary of Defense also announced that starting this year, the U. S. European Command would begin moving most if not all of its active combat and support units OUT OF bases in Germany to others being established in Poland, The Czech Republic, Hungary and Turkey to "better position them for rapid deployment to likely hot spots in those parts of the world." Immediately the business and government leaders in Germany protested the loss of nearly $6 billion in revenue each year from the bases and manpower to be displaced. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry speculated that the move may be "what the Americans call 'payback' for the actions of this government in opposing Military action in Iraq. does anyone know the German translation for "Hasta la vista, baby?"

Oh, ain't it nice to see a government with guts and a good memory.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

GLH

God Bless Amrica indeed.

Thanks Sharkee very good article relating to cause and effect of messing with the US politically.

Love it.

cuda

I'm glad to see they can't just thumb their noses at us without repercussions. They should think about biting the hand that feed them I sure hope they don't get invaded.

GLH

Or some uneducated buch of fanatics wipes out 3000 of their citizen in one fell swoop, let see them turn the other cheek like they want us to do.

bajabob38

Now if we can just throw the UN out of the US.

LostinBoston

so maybe we can quarenteen all of them on that little piece of land

10x

Hey Sharkey..... That's great news!!! Sounds like they got what they wanted. I hope we don't stop there.
What about France? Who's next? Can't wait, I'm sure somethings coming real soon.

CROWN MAN

Is there still Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico? I thought they all moved to DA BRONX.

DaveP

I'm sure John Kerry would have done the same thing!

Now if we could just "accidently" drop a bomb on Paris!

Edward R. Cozzi

Every once in a while I read a new thread that warms the cockles of my heart!