Regional security issue

Without the right information, we’re basically taking pot shots on the future use of Pagan by the military. Unless the NMI secures the right data from bilateral agreements between our country and allied partners in the Asian region, discussions would be futile.

Moreover, the issue may be local but “foreign affairs” in nature only the Department of State could review and dispose in concert with other pertinent agencies of the federal government like the Department of Defense. Regardless, I still think our voice must be heard. It’s our land!

We do know that legally such plans require a two-step process that must pass muster in the U.S. Congress. Would the U.S. Congress give its imprimatur? It remains to be seen. But would acquiring Pagan persist? I have a strange feeling DoD would move on with its plans. We still have the upper hand before Congress. Let’s include Sen. John McCain in our conversation!

Read an interesting observation by former U.S. Attorney Edward Lynch on PDN recently who said that as the U.S. adjusts its strategic plan for Asia it deals with “military rebalance to the region and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement.

This alone would bring “unprecedented growth” to the economy of the NMI and Guam. The Western Pacific region is recognized as the world’s economic powerhouse with the three top economies in the world based upon gross domestic profit and just three to five hours away from our shores.

Lynch said the rebalance in Asia “is not about fighting wars but about assuring stability for economic growth in the region.” The TPP could not have happened but for a renewed emphasis on Asia by Washington, D.C. It is only because of the stability the U.S. presence in Asia brings to the region that agreements like the TPP are possible.

With the two global economic giants in the region it doesn’t make any sense boasting firepower when it is far more responsible ensuring the welfare of nations on the economic front. I doubt too that regional hegemony is on top of either country’s agenda.

“Guam and CNMI are U.S. duty free zones; they have U.S. courts, U.S. laws and U.S. law enforcement,” Lynch noted. “They have political stability; they have U.S. telecommunication privacy; they have U.S. labor; they support economic freedom. In essence, they are U.S. in Asia. The location of the NMI and Guam “makes it the perfect location for companies entering Asia” to take advantage of TPP to headquarter or operate their Asia venture.

The Covenant has set duty free products from the NMI from the days of the shuttered apparel industry. It’s an opportunity for the NMI to serve as the headquarters and launch pad of large-scale businesses to take advantage of our duty free status. We had tons of money in the mid-’80s with an apparel industry raking in $1.2 billion per year. Let’s review this issue (TPP) to get a clearer view where we’re headed.

Longline fishing agreement

The signing of a longline fishing agreement with firms in Hawaii is an issue that we must tread carefully. Sure, it has the attractive feature to use the fees to build a fishermen’s co-op. What the Hawaii firms do out here when catching big-eye tuna must be monitored with a fine toothcomb.

Yet, there’s money to begin a long awaited fisheries development program here that could very well expand into a solid sector on fisheries and eventually revenue generation. Recalled in 1977 a Hawaiian fishing firm asking if we could ship three tons of mahi mahi to Honolulu weekly. Our answer was a highly suspect yes that died at the pier! How do we catch three tons of fish? Hell, I even had a nightmare just thinking of the entire process.

‘Tell It Like It Is!’

My two partners in crime think it’s time that we let go of polite niceties by just practicing short lyrics from a popular song of the sixties, “Tell it like it is…” Screw the consequence. Go for it! It’s their view that at a legal age one should ably make mature decisions.

Said Magoo: “Don’t afraid to mistake. That’s why we come back because we mistake.” There’s a second chance. “Screw fear of mistakes! Let them mistake!” It’s a sure path to claiming your personal freedom! “If you don’t mistake they couldn’t care less. So go ahead and mistake!” Love his level of confidence!

If you’re being mindful then you end up using polite niceties to avoid offending others. So why would it matter what they think of you? Isn’t the decision yours and yours alone?

Admittedly, I’ve been in and out of this junction so many times before for over 50 years. Must have thick skin to muddle through. Don’t look to the side or behind you. Look straight ahead in all your decision-making. After all, your head is on your shoulders so placed there since birth looking forward, sayu? “Don’t afraid to mistake!”

Across the room stood Gooey a very mindful and mature person in his dispositions. He said he’d stick to respecting the rights of others. “It’s all a matter of fostering and nurturing a good working relationship that matters”, he related. He emphasized that it’s the bridge to expanding one’s horizon with the rest of the community. I respectfully disagree!

While the exchange got busier by the minute, I started bouncing back and forth in that one side reflects my youthful indecisions the other a sense of maturity. We could go on with other similar experiences. But think for a moment the freedom you would have conquered if you “tell it like it is.” It’s your decision!