Rep. Hank Johnson form my great state of Georgia tried to turn a question regarding the island nation of Guam's small size and fragile environment and lack of infrastructure into what he claimed was a "hilarious" tidbit of comedy gold. He claims in an interview afterwords that he was trying to point out that the presence of the added Marines would tip the island over. He said he was concerned that the island would flip over and capsize under the weight of the big bad Marines and their families. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-DzuCPmXU&feature=related
To his credit, his delivery was so straight and natural, I had no idea he was testing some stand up material. I thought he was actually dumb enough to think that an island floated along the ocean currents like a dirty beach ball. Maybe he chose the wrong career path. On more than one level...
Let's be frank. We should be concerned about polluting the environment. For centuries, man has not reckoned with the impact our industrial and expansion-related activities have had on our ecosystem until recently. The problem is now that we've acknowledged our errors and are moving ahead with fixing the problems, we have a new class of agitator that screams that we're either not doing enough or that any further expansions into any habitat should be stopped. Progressives like progress unless it helps a corporation or land developer be more successful. If you are a corporate executive who ignores environmental regulations in this litigious and media frenzied climate, then maybe you need to have your behind sued off. I'm just saying...
To respond to Rep. Johnson's point, we're more likely watching another "evil military" show from a Democrat who doesn't want to see our armed forces' role and mission expand. I'm sure the people of Guam are at least interested if this influx of well paid folks are coming to spend their hard earned dollars on their island. True, we do tend to be the police force of the world, but the strategic importance of Guam as a military base in the Pacific is an asset to out national security especially as instability from North Korea and some of the militant groups operating out of Indonesia is becoming more of a threat to us and our allies.
I hardly think that stationing Marines on Guam will be a totally negative or burdensome thing. Challenges yes, resistance to it to be expected, oh sure. But not the cataclysmic world over-turning event that Rep. Johnson wants us to believe.
Kudos to the Admiral for keeping a straight face...
Chip Grefski
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