I am indifferent to jet noise on Whidbey Island. I know it is a larger concern based on where people are situated on Whidbey or elsewhere in the region; Olympic National Park, San Juan Islands, B.C., Port Townsend, etc.
Some of the points made by Navy supporters don’t generate much in the way of good public relations:
The base has been here since WWII. Navy crews will not be able to operate safely without training operations conducted on Whidbey Island.
Most people are probably not asking for the Navy to leave. Concerns seem to be about adding more flights and jets.
Even if NAS Whidbey was shut down, training would continue at other locations. MCAS El Toro is one example of many bases that have been closed over the years. Training goes on.
The US has vast holdings in the form of bombing ranges, missile test ranges, federal lands appropriate for nuclear weapons testing, etc. War games and military training might be conducted in these areas without bothering anyone.
Some examples:
“NAS Fallon serves as the Navy’s premier tactical air warfare training center.”
National Training Center, Fort Irwin
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, 29 Palms
China Lake, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division
NEVADA TEST AND TRAINING RANGE
Naval Auxillary Landing Field San Clemente Island
Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range (CMAGR)
It’s The Sound of Freedom!
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
Many veterans claim to have served to protect American rights & freedoms.
How does this work?
Do the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?
Hey school teachers–
If The Troops fight for American rights and freedoms- why were black people still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory?
One of the nation’s largest, oldest and most respected veterans organizations tells us: Veterans, not politicians, ‘give us the right to vote,’ observers at Amherst Veterans Day ceremonies told
If veterans fought for our right to vote- how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Hometown Pride
Local paper in a military town-
About two years ago, hometown pride was running high when they posted:
“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”
Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
How do The Troops defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
More here: How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, bump stock ban, interracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, voting rights, etc. None of these are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.
More here:
Freedom Comes And Goes – Joint Chiefs of Staff Play No Part
Freedoms Completely Unrelated To Jet Noise Over Coupeville
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