Guthertz to Pfannenstiel: There Appears to be a Lack of Integrity in Navy's Dealing With Guam on Buildup
Last Updated on Thursday, 07 July 2011 10:55
Written by Kevin Kerrigan
Thursday, 07 July 2011 09:24
Guam News
Guam - Senator Judi Guthertz has written to Assistant Navy Secretary Jackalyne Pfannenstiel about her concerns over what Guthertz believes to be an apparent "lack of integrity in the U.S. Government in its dealing with the people of Guam regarding the military buildup."
In her letter, the Senator, who Chairs the Legislature's Buildup Committee, cites the contradiction between a U.S. State Department cable and the Department of Defense's Environmental Impact Statement.
READ Senator Guthertz's letter
The July 2009 cable is from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to the U.S. State Department. It was leaked by Wikileaks.
The cable reports on a meeting DoD's former Japan Director Suzanne Basalla had with Japanese Officials during which Basalla is reported to have told Japanese officials that "while the political value of the 2014 target completion date is clear, the United States has been very frank with Japan that the date is increasingly unrealistic ... The U.S. side looks forward to discussing with Japan ways in which to best manage ‘beyond 2014’ messaging.”
4 months after this cable was sent to the Department of State, the Department of Defense released its draft EIS based upon the 2014 completion date which predicted 79,000 new residents on Guam by 2014. "The residents of Guam were alarmed by this and other numbers" writes Guthertz to Pfannenstiel, adding that "the negative reaction that resulted led to much community division."
In light of what the leaked cable reveals, Guthertz calls the November 2009 release of the draft EIS "false and purposefully un-updated" and blames the EIS for leaving "our community confused and divided."
And she asks "Why was it that the Japanese were told in July of 2009, but it was kept secret from the people of Guam - fellow American citizens - until the release of the Record of Decision in July of 2010?"
The Senator also writes that if the leadership of the Guam military buildup were to appear before the Guam Legislature's Ethics Committee she believes that they "would be found guilty of gross ethical violations."
"This is not the way to treat American citizens. The Americans living in Guam deserve to know the truth about the military buildup plan at the same time, if not sooner, than a foreign government."
Showing posts with label Letter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Letter. Show all posts
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Friday, January 18, 2008
A Letter from the Frontlines
From No Rest for the Awake - Minagahet Chamorro:
This essay was written in my effort to express a local perspective into a war few in the media, and island understand. I sent it to Pacific Daily News, after making contact with a editor through email and was asked to write and send pictures. I did and found no response since. I could not find a contact in Marianas Variety so if any do please forward this, with the intention of remembering those from the Islands who have served and remain a ripple in the pond, have created change and are a part of a change regardless if seen as good or bad, honorable men and women who gave, or give the ultimate sacrifice, being gone for long periods of time from their families or to a higher place....................
First and for most, I would like to convey my families condolences to the to former senator Umpingco's family. All people from all parts of Guam, appreciate the sacrifice he, and his family gave to serve our Island.
I write to you not for fame or recognition, but to share a event that might bring the war closer to home, and sharing one of my experience's in Iraq. This is a example of the emotional rolacoster that we face everyday. I hope that those that read this (if published) understand my intentions for it's weight in my heart compelled me to write .......
I arrived In Balad, Iraq with high hopes of finding friends and family, like I did in 2006. A second tour for me, and a holiday free tour in the sand box. I met the Guam National Guards 909th, Gil Reyes of Yona, Craig, my second cousin from Malojojo and David Quimbao from Talofofo, a childhood friend and brother in arms. To my surprise and dismay, those days of comfort and taste of home no longer existed. I visited the former building of the 909th, and asked a officer I saw walking out if he knew where the the Chamoru's were and he looked at me with a no idea. I found it alittle disturbing considering the big cement mortar barrier with the 909th emblem and Guam seal to their backs, and they still had no idea of whom I speak.
As I drove away with mixed feelings about them being gone and me being alone, and reassuring my self of the better morning my comrades will have because they will wake up too their families in Guam, something struck me to the core. A man was standing along the fence line with a little girl in his arms courting with the other towards the little girl in his arms saying loud and clear " Gift, Gifts, Gift", as to gesture something from the impenetrable walls that divide us. To help clarify what a man was doing out side the fence, I must explain. Outside the wire, farmers tend to their sunflower patches, and other vegetables while still tending to the children and live stock. All my training did not prepare me for what I was seeing. I could respond to incoming mortar, and taking on enemy fire, but this hopefully innocent gesture by this farmer, did me in. All my thoughts of fighting and unhappiness from being away from home stopped. I did what every well trained sailor or soldier would do.....
I have flown in helicopters over homes made of clay and farms as green as the Talofofo valleys in the middle of a desert, I have seen many of things, nothing more troubling than the man outside the wire with that little girl. It brought to light questions of this war, and what that man, like those of his country think. With Guam always in my mind, and the image of that man and child staring in the fence, I immediately related with the thought of us Chamoru's looking in the fence on our own land, and saw me and my 2 girls (Ha'ani & Sinahi), looking at the already crowded island with base's extending the fence lines with the soon movement of Marines, and the island's economic hand being led into reliance on the federal government or foreign investors. Every day away from my family, and Guam, the more I ponder on our course as a people, just like those in Iraq hoping the effort put into this war, and it's restructuring is really for their benefit.
To those fellow Chamoru's who have served and sacrificed their lives, I remember you and your sacrifice, and use that fuel to keep my head up with the love from my wife and two kids.
If I could convey one message, to people in Guam, " Hita I man Taotao Tano! Hita I kutura, I linguahi, i biblia, I ire yan I Tano Chamoru!" Your pains are the pains of every people, no matter the shades of ones skin, we must work toward a common goal of affordability in our home land, and our acceptance of changes on our own terms.
Saina Ma'ase,
Sean R, "Aguon" Sanchez
This essay was written in my effort to express a local perspective into a war few in the media, and island understand. I sent it to Pacific Daily News, after making contact with a editor through email and was asked to write and send pictures. I did and found no response since. I could not find a contact in Marianas Variety so if any do please forward this, with the intention of remembering those from the Islands who have served and remain a ripple in the pond, have created change and are a part of a change regardless if seen as good or bad, honorable men and women who gave, or give the ultimate sacrifice, being gone for long periods of time from their families or to a higher place....................
First and for most, I would like to convey my families condolences to the to former senator Umpingco's family. All people from all parts of Guam, appreciate the sacrifice he, and his family gave to serve our Island.
I write to you not for fame or recognition, but to share a event that might bring the war closer to home, and sharing one of my experience's in Iraq. This is a example of the emotional rolacoster that we face everyday. I hope that those that read this (if published) understand my intentions for it's weight in my heart compelled me to write .......
I arrived In Balad, Iraq with high hopes of finding friends and family, like I did in 2006. A second tour for me, and a holiday free tour in the sand box. I met the Guam National Guards 909th, Gil Reyes of Yona, Craig, my second cousin from Malojojo and David Quimbao from Talofofo, a childhood friend and brother in arms. To my surprise and dismay, those days of comfort and taste of home no longer existed. I visited the former building of the 909th, and asked a officer I saw walking out if he knew where the the Chamoru's were and he looked at me with a no idea. I found it alittle disturbing considering the big cement mortar barrier with the 909th emblem and Guam seal to their backs, and they still had no idea of whom I speak.
As I drove away with mixed feelings about them being gone and me being alone, and reassuring my self of the better morning my comrades will have because they will wake up too their families in Guam, something struck me to the core. A man was standing along the fence line with a little girl in his arms courting with the other towards the little girl in his arms saying loud and clear " Gift, Gifts, Gift", as to gesture something from the impenetrable walls that divide us. To help clarify what a man was doing out side the fence, I must explain. Outside the wire, farmers tend to their sunflower patches, and other vegetables while still tending to the children and live stock. All my training did not prepare me for what I was seeing. I could respond to incoming mortar, and taking on enemy fire, but this hopefully innocent gesture by this farmer, did me in. All my thoughts of fighting and unhappiness from being away from home stopped. I did what every well trained sailor or soldier would do.....
I have flown in helicopters over homes made of clay and farms as green as the Talofofo valleys in the middle of a desert, I have seen many of things, nothing more troubling than the man outside the wire with that little girl. It brought to light questions of this war, and what that man, like those of his country think. With Guam always in my mind, and the image of that man and child staring in the fence, I immediately related with the thought of us Chamoru's looking in the fence on our own land, and saw me and my 2 girls (Ha'ani & Sinahi), looking at the already crowded island with base's extending the fence lines with the soon movement of Marines, and the island's economic hand being led into reliance on the federal government or foreign investors. Every day away from my family, and Guam, the more I ponder on our course as a people, just like those in Iraq hoping the effort put into this war, and it's restructuring is really for their benefit.
To those fellow Chamoru's who have served and sacrificed their lives, I remember you and your sacrifice, and use that fuel to keep my head up with the love from my wife and two kids.
If I could convey one message, to people in Guam, " Hita I man Taotao Tano! Hita I kutura, I linguahi, i biblia, I ire yan I Tano Chamoru!" Your pains are the pains of every people, no matter the shades of ones skin, we must work toward a common goal of affordability in our home land, and our acceptance of changes on our own terms.
Saina Ma'ase,
Sean R, "Aguon" Sanchez
Thursday, August 02, 2007
To Congresswoman Christensen
August 2, 2007
The Honorable Donna M. Christensen
Member of Congress
Subcommittee on Insular Affairs
U.S. House of Representatives
1337 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman Christensen:
Hafa adai from Guam. I am writing to express my shock and extreme displeasure at learning from Mr. Tony Babauta, staff director of your Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, that you have no intention of opening your doors to testimony from the general public at the Oversight Field Hearing on the U.S. Military Buildup on Guam and Challenges Facing the Community, scheduled to be held in Guam on Monday, August 13, 2007.
Madam Congresswoman, why is the Subcommittee even traveling to Guam if it does not want to hear from the people of our island? You certainly don't need to travel so many hours to get the military or federal perspective, because those positions are determined in Washington. The same can be said of the opinions of representatives from our local government's Administration: Lieutenant Governor Michael Cruz and a delegation from Guam are in Washington right now regarding the buildup.
In order to get the perspective of the 170,000 residents of Guam, you have to hear from the real people of our island. That is what we thought the Subcommittee was doing. I appreciate Mr. Babauta's call, but I didn't like hearing that there is a protocol list of about a dozen people who will be allowed to testify, and everyone else is excluded. Even though I submitted my testimony by the July 31 deadline, I won't be allowed to speak. I've attached my newspaper column so you can better understand my perspective.
Like the Virgin Islands, Guam is an often-ignored territory that frequently gets short shrift from our federal government. In spite of this, Chamorros and Guamanians are among the most loyal of American citizens. With all respect, I believe that our people deserve better from the Congress and your Subcommittee on Insular Affairs. I urge you to reconsider your decision and open your Field Hearing doors to the general public. The comments you are likely to hear will not all be positive or negative. There will be good points made and some that are not so good. But at the end of the day the people will have had their say, and you will have a better sense of Guam's position. We're only asking for a few hours of your time.
I look forward to your positive response to my request.
Sincerely,
Judith P. Guthertz, Senator
Minority Member, Civilian-Military Task Force
Attachment (1)
c: The Honorable Madeleine Z. Bordallo
All Senators
All Media
The Honorable Donna M. Christensen
Member of Congress
Subcommittee on Insular Affairs
U.S. House of Representatives
1337 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman Christensen:
Hafa adai from Guam. I am writing to express my shock and extreme displeasure at learning from Mr. Tony Babauta, staff director of your Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, that you have no intention of opening your doors to testimony from the general public at the Oversight Field Hearing on the U.S. Military Buildup on Guam and Challenges Facing the Community, scheduled to be held in Guam on Monday, August 13, 2007.
Madam Congresswoman, why is the Subcommittee even traveling to Guam if it does not want to hear from the people of our island? You certainly don't need to travel so many hours to get the military or federal perspective, because those positions are determined in Washington. The same can be said of the opinions of representatives from our local government's Administration: Lieutenant Governor Michael Cruz and a delegation from Guam are in Washington right now regarding the buildup.
In order to get the perspective of the 170,000 residents of Guam, you have to hear from the real people of our island. That is what we thought the Subcommittee was doing. I appreciate Mr. Babauta's call, but I didn't like hearing that there is a protocol list of about a dozen people who will be allowed to testify, and everyone else is excluded. Even though I submitted my testimony by the July 31 deadline, I won't be allowed to speak. I've attached my newspaper column so you can better understand my perspective.
Like the Virgin Islands, Guam is an often-ignored territory that frequently gets short shrift from our federal government. In spite of this, Chamorros and Guamanians are among the most loyal of American citizens. With all respect, I believe that our people deserve better from the Congress and your Subcommittee on Insular Affairs. I urge you to reconsider your decision and open your Field Hearing doors to the general public. The comments you are likely to hear will not all be positive or negative. There will be good points made and some that are not so good. But at the end of the day the people will have had their say, and you will have a better sense of Guam's position. We're only asking for a few hours of your time.
I look forward to your positive response to my request.
Sincerely,
Judith P. Guthertz, Senator
Minority Member, Civilian-Military Task Force
Attachment (1)
c: The Honorable Madeleine Z. Bordallo
All Senators
All Media
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