US To Use Galapagos Island As Military Airfield

[PupCamo]

https://crooksandliars.com/2019/06/us-use-galapagos-island-military-airfield

WTF

One of my dear friends decided to spend several months traveling through South America with her new husband. I was so jealous, as I felt stuck at home with two very young children. Keri sent me pictures of them hiking in Peru, dancing in Brazil, and getting up close to blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos. The Galapagos Islands in particular fascinated me. This fragile ecology that was home to species seen nowhere else. In the back of my mind, I put that on my bucket list of things to do when I was no longer hip deep in diapers and playgroup dates.

But it looks like I may have waited too late to get to the Galapagos. The Independent reports that Equador has granted the US permission to use the Galapagos for a military airfield:

Ecuador has given the US military permission to use a Galapagos island as an airfield, angering critics in the South American country who say the agreement is unconstitutional.

Under a deal with Ecuador’s right-wing government, the Pentagon will use the tiny airport on San Cristobal island to “fight drug trafficking”, defence minister Oswaldo Jarrin said.

[marble falls]

1. WTF indeed.

[pazzyanne]

9. Also -

[Hoyt]

2. Hope that never happens.

[femmedem]

3. Ok, that made me tear up for an instant.

I understand that because we don't know how to wean ourselves off from fossil fuel fast enough, there are places we don't know how not to destroy.

But do we have to seek out the most fragile, unique places to destroy?

Somehow, I'm thinking of the Trump brothers posing with their trophy kills.

[Mendocino]

6. Little Donny J and Eric

trap shooting for albatrosses.

[Bev54]

4. I hope not

Now I understand why Pence was spending so much time in Ecuador. I am very hopeful that it will be voted down there. It certainly should be - no country should be allowed to use the islands, it is sacred.

[Mendocino]

5. Guantanamo West?

or Trump Gala A Pagos Club

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

7. It would be used to spread U.S. hegemony.

Maybe it is what they say it is, but I don't trust this administration on anything. I thought Fat Donnie was bitching that there were too many U.S. bases on foreign soil.

[malaise]

8. This administration?

US hegemony is promoted by all sides

[COLGATE4]

10. It is my understanding that the U.S. will be able to

refuel drug interdiction flights at San Cristobal. A far cry from the U.S. using San Cristobal's sirfield as a "military airfield".

[Poiuyt]

11. I was there in the 1970s

The place was pretty pristine back then. I understand that tourism has hurt much of the island, but there's no doubt that having military planes flying in and out will damage the fragile ecosystem.