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Editorials
Saturday, December 16, 2000Army must be
allowed to use
Makua ValleyThe issue: An environmental assessment has found that the Army could resume training at Makua Valley with some restrictions without having a "significant impact."
THE Army has announced that an environmental assessment has found "no significant impact" on Makua Valley would result from a resumption of live-ammunition training, provided that prescribed restrictions are implemented. But that conclusion isn't going to satisfy some opponents of military use of the Waianae Coast valley. They won't be satisfied until the Army gets out for good.
Maj. Gen. James Dubik, commander of the 25th Infantry Division, the primary user of the firing range, explained that the environmental assessment included geology, vegetation, the 33 threatened and endangered species in the valley, cultural resources and cumulative impact.
"We have two very important, simultaneous obligations," Dubik said. "One is to preserve the Hawaiian culture and environment -- not just in Makua, but all the training areas in Hawaii.
"The second is to prepare our soldiers for combat so that they have the highest chance of coming home alive."
The military hasn't used Makua Valley in two years, when a lawsuit was filed alleging violation of federal environmental law.
The general said this has caused "a slow erosion of company-level proficiency." That's not surprising. The valley is the only place on Oahu where the 25th Division and other military units can conduct live-ammunition training at the company level.
The restrictions that would be imposed on training include a ban on rockets, missiles, tracers and illuminating devices that burn, a reduction in the number of soldiers using the valley at one time to about 150, and implementation of an extensive firefighting plan. Fire has been the biggest problem associated with the exercises.
Chances are that the Army's plans to resume use of the valley will be put on hold. The Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund is threatening to go back to court to seek a more detailed study called an environmental impact statement. The fund's lawyers contend that the environmental assessment isn't sufficiently thorough. Translated, that means they don't like the finding that training can resume.
The Army has gone to considerable lengths to meet environmental concerns about Makua Valley, and for good reason. There is no alternative site on Oahu for this sort of training.
In the military, training is essential. An inadequately trained unit is a unit that may not be capable of performing its mission. This is a serious matter when national security is at stake.
A decade ago the federal government, in the face of protests by Hawaiian activists, stopped the bombing of Kahoolawe. That represented the loss of an important training area for the Navy.
Since then the military's opponents have targeted Makua Valley. If they prevail, another vital training area will be lost. The value of Hawaii as a place to base troops will be reduced.
A balance must be struck between environmental concerns -- many of them legitimate -- and the nation's defense needs. That balance should include continued use of Makua Valley by the Army, with reasonable restrictions.
AOL-Time
Warner OK
THE Federal Trade Commission's approval of the merger between America Online, headed by Hawaii product Steve Case, and Time Warner goes far toward clearing the way for completion of the $111 billion deal, the largest proposed merger in U.S. history.
Still remaining to be obtained is the OK of the Federal Communications Commission, but that is considered probable.
The key to FTC approval, which was unanimous, was the companies' pledge to protect consumer choice for the next generation of Internet services and content. A five-year consent decree was approved that includes safeguards against anti-competitive effects.
FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky said the order "is intended to ensure that this new medium, characterized by openness, diversity and freedom, will not be closed down as a result of this merger."
Time Warner agreed to give consumers a choice of Internet providers besides AOL on its high-speed Web access delivered over its cable lines. Under the agreement, Time Warner must offer at least three Internet providers in addition to AOL within three months of offering service in a market.
For its part, AOL pledged that it would not discriminate against content from sources other than Time Warner that it uses on its Internet systems or interactive television service.
Such pledges were necessary to keep the companies from unacceptable domination of Internet services and content. AOL is the nation's largest online company with 26 million subscribers. Time Warner's network of cable lines is capable of reaching nearly 21 million homes. It controls HBO, movies from Warner Brothers, Time Inc. and CNN.
It was apparent that a merger of such giants could create problems for the preservation of competition. However, the conditions negotiated with the FTC to deal with that threat appear to satisfy critics. Jeff Chester of the Center for Media Education, said, "AOL and Time Warner thought they could take the Internet and interactive TV and become the sole gatekeeper. They can't do that now."
In this era of massive corporate mergers and rapid technological change, government must continue to strive to preserve competition in new industries without interfering unduly with business decisions. In this case the FTC has struck a deal with the prospective partners that seems to protect competition and thus consumers' interests.
Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited PartnershipRupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
