MARC

Please check your calendar and see if you have time to learn more about MARC and honor one of our favorite historians...

An easy lesson on the Free Market that everyone should know

There is a fact still more astounding: The absence of a master mind, of anyone dictating or forcibly directing these countless actions which bring me into being. No trace of such a person can be found. Instead, we find the Invisible Hand at work.

Bice' response to Keatings interview

After we read the Reuters story on Keatings interview, I sent a copy to General David Bice for his comments. They follow:

Ray,

Thanks for the note. Not sure exactly the context of Adm Keating's statement. Several months ago he made a similiar statement re: date construction complete, which we acknowledge is an aggressive schedule.
Costs will certainly be higher as our planning has always been in 2008 dollars. Bottomline, construction is still set to begin in 2010; US-Japan target for completion remains 2014; cost planning (for Marines
only) at $10.2B in 2008 dollars.

Jayne Flores' Tribute to Joe Murphy

In case you haven't heard, Jayne Flores is writing editorials again. She's commented on Matt Rector's ethical compass bearings and 50 plus LOST educational days at GW/JFK. Here most recent column pays homage to Joe Murphy and his contribution to our media landscape. See it and her other recent columns at http://viewsfromthetrench.wordpress.com/

Once there Control-D bookmarks it!

Keating Speaks

Awaiting word from General Bice and Local JIGPO officials. meantime, here is the Reuters story:

WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - A key part of a major realignment of U.S. forces in Japan in which 8,000 Marines would be shifted from Okinawa to Guam, is likely to be delayed beyond its 2014 target date, the commander of U.S. forces in Asia and the Pacific said on Thursday.

"We are behind a timeline to achieve that goal of 8,000 (Marines) down to Guam, and we don't have enough money to make it happen right now," Navy Adm. Timothy Keating said.

"I don't think it will happen on time. I think it will be more expensive," he told Reuters in an interview.

The Hawaii-based commander stressed that there had been no change under the new Obama administration to the major overhaul plan, unveiled in 2006 and formally called the Defense Policy Review Initiative.

Analysts say key elements of the plan to shift troops away from the southern Japanese island of Okinawa have been held up by wrangling between the central government and the local government on the densely populated southern island.

Okinawa plays host to the bulk of the 50,000 U.S. troops based in Japan under a bilateral treaty and islanders have chafed at military accidents and crimes such as rape committed by U.S. servicemen.

Keating played down the impact of any delay.

"A case can be made that a more measured, longer-term approach approach ... could be beneficial," he said.

"It could be reassuring to our friends and allies in the region that we're not abandoning Japan, we're not rushing to judgment," Keating said.

Guam, the largest of the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific, is a U.S. territory and is home to a number of military bases. (Editing by Eric Walsh)

Additional loan docs worth reading

The following docs are associated with the 20.1 mill loan BJ refers to in the post below. Some interesting lawyering going on here....


Bank%20of%20Guam%20First%20Revision%20Agreement%20-%20signed.pdf


Bank-of-Guam-Loan-Agreement%20Landfill.pdf

Sen BJ Cruz' letter to the AG

BJ_letter_AG.pdf

This is the letter I've been talking about lately, I may post additional documents later, so check back. Think he's got something here?