Senator, activist debate Vieques decision

Sen. James Inhofe, left, and Juan Figueroa

President Bush said Thursday that the U.S. military will end bombing exercises on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. The decision was criticized by members of Congress who say closing the bombing range will be detrimental to U.S. military readiness. CNN's Judy Woodruff spoke to U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Juan Figueroa, president of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund.

WOODRUFF: Senator Inhofe, to you first. The White House is saying that this was not a political decision. It was a decision made at the Pentagon. How do you read it?

INHOFE: Well I don't think that it makes any difference whether it was politically motivated. The fact is, Judy, they made the decision, it was a bad decision. And we can't make decisions as a result of public pressure.

The last time I was debating the man who is on here with us right now, he asked the question: How would you like it if you had a range in your state of Oklahoma? Look, I have got Fort Sill. Our range is live and hot 320 days out of year. And those people, what are they going to say when they say well, we allowed the protesters to shut down a range that we have to have. Judy, we have to have this range. There is no alternative. I have been all around the world, going to every other site. There is no alternative.

WOODRUFF: But I know you've made those arguments, Senator, to the White House. You've made them to the Pentagon. Why, then did they make the decision?

INHOFE: Well, I think that the military is strongly on my side. The CNO, and the Navy and the commandant of the Marine Corp, they know that we have to have this. Look, on March 12 we had an accident where we dropped it 3, 500 pounders killing a number of people, six people. And they were supposed have gotten live fire training on Vieques and were not able to do it. So we are talking about American lives here. And I want to also add that the National Guard of Puerto Rico does their training in my state of Oklahoma at Fort Sill.

WOODRUFF: Well, Senator, just to be clear, you say the military agrees with you, who does that leave? Doesn't that leave the president and has advisers at the White House?

INHOFE: Well, I have not heard the statement from the White House yet. I keep hearing what they are going to say and what the ingredients are going to be or are suspected to be. I have not heard it yet, Judy, and maybe it will come forth tonight.

WOODRUFF: Mr. Figueroa, this is what your group wanted, is it not?

FIGUEROA: Well, part of it, Judy. You know, Senator Inhofe is correct. This is about American lives. These are about American Puerto Rican citizens who, for the last 60 years, have had a higher cancer rate, higher infant mortality rate, have died from errant bombs, and most recently have had to deal with heart problems as a result.

(CROSSTALK)

FIGUEROA: If I can finish my point, please, Senator. So, this is about American lives. This is about the fact that Puerto Ricans have been there, and provided Vieques for the military to be able to do its exercises in Vieques. Now the good news about today, Judy, is the fact that I think the president and the White House have recognized that Vieques is not indispensable. That, in fact, alternatives do exist.

The fact that the Navy was not able to train in Vieques for over a year. Last year, when there was an accidental death in Vieques, proves the point that the Navy can be and has been ready. And so this is not an issue. The issue is: How long are you going to subject American citizens to this kind of abuse? Look, 60 years

(CROSSTALK)

FIGUEROA: If in fact, look, if this was in Martha's Vineyard or the Florida Keys I can guarantee that you that the Navy would have been out a long time ago.

WOODRUFF: So you're saying -- they're saying they want this to happen in 2003, at least that's what we believe they're saying. They have not made an official announcement yet as Senator Inhofe just said. You are saying that's not soon enough.

FIGUEROA: That's not soon enough, Judy. Look, the last time I checked, the military should be about protecting American citizens, not about being putting in American citizens in harm's way. That's what has been happening in Vieques. That's why this is not acceptable.

WOODRUFF Senator Inhofe.

INHOFE: Judy, first of all, you can't let him get by with making that statement. All these medical assertions have been disproven. They are no more true on Vieques than they are in Fort Sill or Lawton, Oklahoma. It's just not true.

(CROSSTALK)

WOODRUFF: I don't think we're going to settle that part of this today.

INHOFE: Judy, I think also the Pace-Fallon report and many of the studies have gone around and looked all alternatives. There are no alternatives, and I have personally been around.

FIGUEROA: That's not true.

INHOFE: It is true.

FIGUEROA: I don't think the president of the United States would have come out with a policy saying the Navy...

INHOFE: He hasn't come out with it yet.

FIGUEROA: ... unless it was proven to them that Vieques is indispensable and that's not the case, so...

WOODRUFF: Let me ask Sen. Inhofe to go back to a point you made a little while ago and that was, you said they haven't made the announcement yet formerly. Are you saying you think they might not announce this after all?

INHOFE: Judy, we hear bits and pieces about what they're going to announce. One of them would be that if we find a suitable site by 2003 then we will vacate Vieques. That is one interpretation that I have heard. That would be totally unacceptable to the gentlemen that I am, I guess, debating right now but nonetheless, let's wait until they come out and see how it reads.

My point is this: There is no alternative site. We've already lost six people as a result of not getting good training and we cannot allow this to happen. We won't have any ranges left anywhere including my state of Oklahoma if we allow one to be closed just from protests.

WOODRUFF: Mr. Figueroa, if it turn outs as Senator Inhofe is saying here, that we do not have a decision by the White House, what will you do?

FIGUEROA: Well, look, I think it's been clear for the last year that it isn't just the people of Vieques, it's the governor of Vieques, it's the Puerto Rican legislature...

INHOFE: There is no governor of Vieques.

FIGUEROA: ... it's the church, it's the entire Puerto Rican society. You know, there were some Puerto Rican senators who were arrested in this last wave of protests, the so-called protests. This is thwarting the will of an entire people who have said, look, we've contributed to the national defense, but the last time I checked, as I said before, the military should be about protecting U.S. citizens. It should not be, and it's not acceptable, to put U.S. citizens in harm's way by either high cancer rates, high infant mortality rates or errant bombs.

INHOFE: I don't know why he doesn't mention the pro Navy rally that took place last weekend. I have been on Vieques, I have talked to the citizens. Many of them are very supportive of the Navy. We are not talking about Puerto Rico. We are talking about the island of Vieques. Self-determination is all I ask for.

WOODRUFF: And as we wrap up, Senator Inhofe, just to be clear, you and others senators will continue do what you can to keep this decision from being formal, I gather.

INHOFE: Well, we're going to keep the law in the books. The law in the books do not allow this decision as it has been portrayed.

WOODRUFF: All right, well we will certainly want to pursue that. Senator James Inhofe and Juan Figueroa, with the Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund. Thank you, both, gentlemen, thank you.

FIGUEROA: Thank you, Judy.

INHOFE: Thank you.