L E T T E R S
July 19, 2007
Is the Army gearing up to fight for American soil on American soil?
Dear Editor of the Rocky Mountain News,
In response to Representative Bob Gardner's request for Senator's Allard and Salazar to "support funding for the Army to move forward with its environmental impact studies" in Army's proposed expansion in Pinon Canyon, here's instead what our senators should do.
a) Request a reversionary clause whereas upon Army's vacating of said area (It's likely that withdrawal of troops in Iraq will dramatically lessen the need for a training facility.), the original and legal user/owners of that land and water should have first option to re-purchase said property at the same price the Army paid them.
b) Army works closely with original and legal user/owners to bring forth a fully compensated, thoughtful, gentle and temporary relocation plan.
c) Request Army commit to full reclamation of land and water used, thus readying it for original and legal user/owners return.
d) Demand from Army a finite of acres they deem necessary for military training...and military training only. There's no need for them or partner entity to gain property for buffer zones, corridors, golf courses, hunting grounds, conservation easements, conservancies, wetlands, or any other outside use.
e) Senator Allard and former Representative Joel Hefley secured a considerable amount of money (Approximately $18,000,000.) for the Nature Conservancy to co-partner with the Army on land acquisition. But because Army may muscle in with eminent domain -and TNC will not get near projects that threat activation of eminent domain, TNC now has several million bucks left un-used. If Army needs money, simply ask TNC to return that money to the federal government and earmark it for that use.
f) Demand solid evidence from federal government as to why it believes it can't use its own land - for example in Nevada - for expanding a training facility. Particularly in light of the fact that Nevada's topography is more like Iraq than the productive ag land of Southern Colorado.
g) Show proof of willing sellers. The "willing seller" term is bandied about incorrectly. The feds and their non-government partners use a formula to born these allegedly willing sellers, for rarely will you find a person who bounces with happiness when forced to give away their home, income and way of life.
Oft times these federal/non-government partnerships will fund a front man to purchase a chunk of property near the area they desire, thus creating their boast, "we have willing sellers."
Is the federal government withdrawing troupes from Iraq so they can occupy southeast Colorado?
Why does the federal government want to practice a type of war that's not a recognizable form of combat today?
Is the Army gearing up to fight for American soil...on American soil?
Roni Bell Sylvester
Dear Roni,
You might wish to read and then post the following paper which analyzes the expansion of the environmental movement in the US during the past 20-30 years.
See: http://www.cei.org/pdf/6052.pdf
Lawrence Kogan
Roni,
Good job. You've hit it on the head.
Your friend, Kimmi Lewis
Great letter to the editor!!
You Go, Girl!!
E.C.