Guam Military Buildup

Comment from a reader on Guam Military buildup

I happened to come across a news article that effusively describes job opportunities to be available when Guam undergoes one of the biggest military base buildups ever. Quoting: "US Sens. Judith Guthertz and Rory Respicio said their country is about to undertake in Guam "the United States' greatest military buildup since the end of World War II," referring to the planned construction of a $15-billion base on the island preparatory to the pullout of troops from various American military installations in Japan.

Meeting with officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) here, Guthertz and Respicio urged the SBMA to form a Philippine delegation to Guam to expedite the establishment of a training center in Subic Bay."

My first reaction was, "HUH?" I like to think of myself as reasonably well informed on current and projected military projects. Nobody I know of has a clue regarding any plan for a "huge buildup in Guam, or, for that matter, ANY kind of buildup that place.

There could be such a plan, but cynically speaking, sure sounds like a lot of hoopla for a gigantic scam. Question is, who/whom to be scammed? The news article somewhat disingenuously identifies Madam Guthertz and Mr. Respicio as "U.S. Senators," when in fact they are Territorial Legislature senators.

Territorial legislative entities should not be confused with the 100 members of the U.S. Senate who represent the citizens of our 50 States. I would urge the good people of the Philippines to take with a grain of salt the promises of junketing territorial nabobs who lack real clout with the U.S. Congress that ultimately decides the disposition of military buildups.

[The Subic Bulletin] On this occasion your radar may be malfunctioning, there certainly is a Guam military buildup and a big relocation of troops from Japan to Guam.
You can Google hundreds of stories on the subject but this project plan (click here) may be of more interest than the Hype. Work Begins Jul 2010 and we hope as many Filipinos will be involved in the construction as possible.