Midway, A Political Chess Game

By Gary Randall, Supporters And Veterans Of Midway Island (SAVMI)

Monday, ANN published a story on the possible shut-down of the emergency air strip at Midway Atoll. The article referred to a pending decision by the Department of Transportation to close the former military base there because it's just too expensive. However, airlines are up in arms about the possibility and now, veterans who served at Midway are upset over the way the entire story was first characterized in the New York Times. Here, then, is a bit of equal time -- Gary Randall, shown in the second picture below, explains why so many veterans are upset about this story. -- ed.)

With the presidential election at the fore front of our thoughts, I'm sure we all can agree that the political rhetoric is running at a feverish pace. We all have our own ideas of how the election will affect our country. But we all must also ask ourselves how the election will affect Midway.

I am not here to tell you how to vote. I'm not here to preach my ideas of political philosophy. But after reading the latest New York Times article, it is obvious that the source of the information, and the reporter is trying to tell you how to vote. It was obvious in the first sentence. "The Bush administration is threatening to shut an airfield at Midway Atoll in the mid-Pacific that has been available as an emergency landing site for decades." How would the source benefit from blaming this situation on the President? Perhaps the source, or the writer feel that John Kerry would be more generous to the agency with our tax money? Perhaps they feel John Kerry would be better able to persuade the other agencies or businesses that would benefit from an open Midway to concede to the FWS terms? I can only speculate.

Now, I have heard of a lot of things lately that the President is responsible for, but the closing of Midway lays firmly in the hands of the agency that is in charge, if for no other reason than their inability to form a plan that will bring everybody to the table of cooperation. This should be obvious to any objective reporter if they did even the smallest amount of research. Most all of the information is posted right here at Midway Island dot com in the form of newspaper articles, press releases and directives. This reporter obviously took USFWS provided information and printed it verbatim.

The USFWS has a steady track record of non cooperation at Midway starting with the failed cooperative agreement between Midway Phoenix Corp. through to the present day situation regarding the operation of the airfield, maintenance of the islands infrastructure and their refusal to consider any plan that will provide a public visitation program. The FWS's idea of cooperation is one of non compromise or cooperation. Their agenda is the only agenda, it's a "My way or the highway" mentality. Their agenda or plan seems to be to systematically disassemble the island and return it to an island inhabited exclusively by a handful of biologists. If this is not their plan, it is happening anyway.

The latest plan concocted by the agency is called "Right Sizing", which includes another study to determine which buildings they don't need, and the plans for their removal. This means that they are planning on the islands inability to provide beneficial services, such as SAR missions, refueling services, emergency airfield services or visitation in the future. There is already a policy, official or unofficial, to not maintain any structure that they deem unnecessary, which results in their infestation by the voracious Formosan termite, which is infesting the island since the termite eradication program was discontinued, and the effects of the moist salt sea air. This is destruction by neglect. Once they are irreparable, they will be torn down.

The next recent evidence of their plan for Midway's future is the removal of the harbor tugs. Their removal is indication that they don't plan on hosting ships within the harbor, or to provide the emergency services that the tugs could provide. The next step is the removal of the piers, which is probably a given considering their termite infestation, and disrepair from lack of maintenance. A FWS representative claims the reason the tugs were removed is that they became an environmental liability.

The next indication of their plan to close Midway is their importation to Midway of the Laysan Duck, a non native species. This contradicts their own policy of non importation of non native species. This was a blatant move to make Midway subject to even stricter environmental and wildlife laws which will further disallow activities against the agencies plan to take place at Midway. The Laysan Duck, another pawn in the game of Midway's future.

It shouldn't matter if you care about Midway's wildlife, facilities, its history or any combination of the three, an open Midway can provide it all. Please help us in our quest to abate the vacuous money pit that Midway has become. To reestablish a self funded public visitation program, as required of the agency. Please send letters to your Government Representatives, FWS personnel and newspaper journalists. Let them know you care about Midway and want the game to end.

FMI: www.midwayisland.com