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Our humble contribution toward peace
I have been closely observing the media coverage on the needs of the military on Tinian, Saipan, and Pagan Island. I am aware that the military is presently conducting an environmental impact study in areas where it will be most suitable for their purposes while minimizing the effect on the respective community.
I have been watching the evening news on television where fighter planes are using the Tinian airstrip for landing and take-off practices. I also heard that the Air Force is looking seriously at the Saipan airport as an option.
The island of Pagan—depending on the result of the Environmental Impact Study, which is almost complete—it is quite possible that the military might use a portion of Pagan to train our men and women in uniform. Again that will depend on the result of the EIS, which is presently ongoing.
I am aware that there are resistance by some folks within our community to accommodate the military with their needs for the purposes of training so that in time of emergency our young men and women in uniform are fully capable to carry out their responsibilities; to defend us and our nation in time of conflict. More importantly, they don’t come back home in a casket. I don’t want to see another conflict as I did during World War II.
The question I ask therefore is: Is it too much to let our “peace keeping force” use a portion of Pagan Island for training? Please accord the needs of our military folks so that these young men and women may effectively defend us and our nation. I want to see them come back from war alive and not in caskets. Let us show Uncle Sam that we, the people of the CNMI, are more than happy to give up a portion of the island of Pagan as our contribution toward maintaining peace.
David M. Sablan
Chalan Pago, Saipan
