10-08-2006, 04:15 PM
The Army will just perform the evaluation and decide Hawaii is the place to be. My understanding is that the Army start the evaluation shortly after the first suit started, that is why they arent hemming and hawing. Because the land is already a military reservation in active use it is just a formality to push the paper work through. Two examples are Camp Pendleton and the Joint Access Training Area in the Mohave. Along the coast of Pendleton groups sued the marines for landing LCATs and performing amphi-landing training because is destroyed environment and was harmful to several protected species, the same thing happened to the Army and Marines in the Mohave. The courts sided with the govt, partially because the Marines and the Army has been such good stewarts of the land and cited that along the coast and in the desert that one reasons the species continues to flouish was partially because of the military's concern for the environment.
Look at it this way, its an arty range already how much more damage could you do? The strykers will drive over some lava and shoot some more lava. The courts were somewhat upset the Army didn't stick to the rules, so the courts slapped their hand. Its like getting a speeding ticket from a cop for 25mph in a 15mph, they dont take you licence on the spot; the Army has been given a ticket. The courts will are also asking for understanding why the training location is important, this is the same argument over here and there: "Why can't the Marines only be based at Lejeune?" "Why does the Navy need a base at Pearl Harbor, they have ports in California, Japan and on the east coast." "Why does the Army need a base on Oahu?", its simple logistics but the courts want a justification. There is already a standard of use for the location. I think the Army should ask for a full court review and keep trying to bleed earth justice dry. Strykers are much less destructive than the tanks that were used in the past on the range. I cant wait til Strykers get here and bring the SuperFerry.
Jared
Look at it this way, its an arty range already how much more damage could you do? The strykers will drive over some lava and shoot some more lava. The courts were somewhat upset the Army didn't stick to the rules, so the courts slapped their hand. Its like getting a speeding ticket from a cop for 25mph in a 15mph, they dont take you licence on the spot; the Army has been given a ticket. The courts will are also asking for understanding why the training location is important, this is the same argument over here and there: "Why can't the Marines only be based at Lejeune?" "Why does the Navy need a base at Pearl Harbor, they have ports in California, Japan and on the east coast." "Why does the Army need a base on Oahu?", its simple logistics but the courts want a justification. There is already a standard of use for the location. I think the Army should ask for a full court review and keep trying to bleed earth justice dry. Strykers are much less destructive than the tanks that were used in the past on the range. I cant wait til Strykers get here and bring the SuperFerry.
Jared