Stryker delay may cost $49M; People's Posse report

Advertiser story about the Army's estimate that delays to its Stryker brigade construction program here could cost $15.6 million to $49.1 million. Once again, nobody's fault but their own, for not following the law. But the wasted money is all our tax money.

And on a related note, check out the extended entry for a "People's Posse" report on Stryker activity on the Big Island and their visit to Pohakuloa Military Training Area "to ensure all Stryker related construction & training is shut down as ordered by the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals."

Jim Albertini <ja@interpac.net> wrote:

Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2006 20:46:28 -1000
Subject: [DMZ-Hawaii] Report on the People's Posse visit to the Military Pokahuloa Training Area

Aloha Kakou,

The People's Posse did a preliminary inspection on Wed. Nov. 1, 2006 and found no sign of Stryker Construction or Stryker training taking place on Hawaii Island at the Military Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA). In fact a J.W. Glover Construction Co. worker leaving PTA said they were shut down and taking out their equipment.

About three dozen people, from all parts of the island including 78 year old Louis Korn from Na`alehu, joined the People's Posse. Members of the Royal Order of Kamehameha lead the group in prayer for the healing of the land and all life. During a one hour vigil, leaflets were handed out to passing cars and troops and a wide variety of protest signs were held at the main gate area: "Stryker Pau Hana, Stryker Pack your bags, Stryker Out Now, No Stryker Hawaii, Protect the Aina, Protect Sacred Sites, Cease & Desist, Stryker Illegal --Go Home, Ban DU Weapons, etc." ( see leaflet below)

Radiation expert, Leuren Moret talked over a portable sound system to the group and the military guards nearby: She explained the horrors of U.S. depleted uranium (DU)weapons, the terrible health effects they are having on the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, on U.S. troops and the world in general because of the particles being circulated around the world in the form of poison dust blowing in the wind. Moret said DU weapons must be banned and all troops need to be tested when they return from the war zones to establish exposure for the VA to provide for health problems and disability.

There have been reports of Stryker vehicles on Hawaii Island. One was sighted broken down along Saddle Rd on the Kona side surrounded by police within the past 2 weeks.. Apparently, the military was afraid irate citizens may transform it into ploughshares. Two additional Strykers were sighted on Oct. 26th, the day the 9th Circuit issued its restraining order to halt all further Stryker related construction projects and Stryker training. News article have said there are about 150 Strykers already on Oahu and that about 50 Strykers a month have been arriving at the Army's Schofield Barracks. All further Stryker activity has now been ordered stopped by court order.

The People's Posse has vowed to stay on alert and observe for ongoing Stryker criminal activity. The posse is prepared to cordon off any observed Stryker criminal activity and respond with non-violent action to stop a crime in process.

For anyone interested in joining the People's Posse, please contact
Jim Albertini
Malu `Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box AB
`Ola`a (Kurtistown), Hawaii 96760
Phone 808-966-7622
email ja@interpac.net
www.malu-aina.org

People's Posse
Press Release Oct. 28, 2006

Re: People's Posse to go to Pohakuloa Military Training Area to ensure all Stryker related construction & training is shut down as ordered by the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

Further contact; Jim Albertini 966-7622

"A People's Posse is being organized to go to the Pohakuloa Military Training Area on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 10AM" said Jim Albertini of Malu Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action in Kurtistown. Albertini said, "car pools will leave Hilo Bay front on Wednesday at 9AM from the makai parking lot opposite the closed gas station near Pauahi St. All volunteers for the Posse are welcome." "Th e purpose of the People's Posse is to ensure all construction and training related to the Stryker Brigade has been shut down as ordered by the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals," said Albertini.

Albertini said, "The fact is we don't trust the military to comply with the law." In the 1960s the military said they wanted to lease state land for weather tests. They lied. They were conducting secret chemical weapons tests in Hilo's watershed area --on State land in the Waiakea Forest Reserve. More recently the military said they never used Depleted Uranium (DU) weapons in Hawaii. They lied again. Spent DU rounds were recently found at Schofield Barracks on Oahu and was disclosed by local peace groups, instead of the military. Again the military was trying to keep it hush/hush. "

Albertini said " the Federal Appeals Court ruled on Oct. 5th that the military violated the National Environmental Policy Act and that it must shut down all Stryker related construction and training until it complies with the law by completing a proper Environmental Impact Statement. The military refused to stop all construction and Stryker training. Just last week on Oct. 26th the same Appeals Court issued an injunction ordering the military to stop all construction and Stryker training. Again, we don't trust the military to stop. They are like drug addicts. The military is addicted to militarism. They may say one thing but do another if they think they can get away with it just like the deadly nerve gas testing of the 60s. Albertini emphasized -- If we find them continuing with Stryker related activities, some of us are prepared to take non-violent direct action to shut them down. There are a lot of military contractors feeding at the Federal Stryker trough and they get use to feeding on that blood money of military spending. The contractors are part of the addiction. Like the military, the contractors don't want to shut down either.

"The Military violated the law by fast tracking a Stryker Brigade for Hawaii. The law required the military to look at a variety of possible locations for basing a Stryker Brigade outside of Hawaii, but Sen. Daniel Inouye said prior to the Environmental Impact Statement process even beginning that he "was assured of a Stryker Brigade for Hawaii." The whole thing was a done deal from the get go. The military did not even bother to give an appearance of looking at alternative locations outside of Hawaii, locations that would not involve destroying important cultural sites and the environment as will happen in Hawaii with a Stryker Brigade. In short --they just didn't give a damn about the law or the cultural and environmental destruction Stryker will cause. That's the exact attitude that comes from the top down, from George Bush in the White House legalizing torture, secret prisons, an illegal war based on lies, etc. etc."
-pau-
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB `Ola`a (Kurtistown), Hawai`i 96760. Phone (808) 966-7622.
Email ja@interpac.net http://www.malu- aina.org

Posted: Thu - November 2, 2006 at 07:09 PM

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Stryker delay may cost $49M; People's Posse report

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