The news from US Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel J.
Locklear that the Guam Buildup will be delayed until 2020 sent shockwaves
across the Pacific this week. Threats of an unstable nuclear Korea, a growing
China military, violent extremism across the Pacific Rim and needed intelligence
support to DOD Operations dominated Admiral Locklear's testimony before the House
Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Also,
the Admiral spoke of strengthening alliances and partnerships across seven
island nations including that of Japan. He
mentioned the Guam Buildup and the needed resources. But 2020 stood out. Part of a larger
restructuring in Japan, there was yet another commitment to the move. But reference
to Futenma remained largely status quo and PACOM's statements are showing that
the US and Japan are still pretty torn on the moving the US Marines there in
Okinawa to Dededo Throw in a great line
that ,"The Pacific Ocean does not separate the United States from Asia; it
connects us", was a subtle way for Admiral Locklear to show his expertise
in the region and further educate Washington DC bureaucrats and lawmakers that
they must continue to support PACOM's vision for the future.
This is not the first time the feds kicked the proverbial
buildup "can" down the road and expecting folks here to be attentive
to the work needed to execute this $1.3 billion dollar program. In a GAO report
dated June 27, 2011, there was statements made over efforts to get the Guam
Buildup completed quickly . But there
estimates showed completion of full Guam Program implementation by 2022.
News like this from Capitol Hill is not very encouraging. It
shows that until we have some higher level of clout to get this effort to bring
6000 Marines to Guam , we should expect more rhetoric and more questions
locally.
The Governor was marginally successful in understanding more
about the efforts at the Pentagon to get the Guam Buildup underway. In fact, his efforts to glean more from
efforts to fund public sector mandates in the Sequester were met with a lot of
platitudes and vague insight. The Guam
Delegate called for detailed briefings on the impacts of this critical
congressional tool on money for the island and was met with a deafening silence
from the Rayburn Building to the Capitol Hill Visitors Center. Even the Speaker of the Guam Legislature, who
met with federally funded agency employees in roundtable discussions last week
and earlier this week got even less information that the Governor related to
the Sequester impacts on Gov Guam now and into the near future. The 15 members of the Guam Legislature are not the most credible ambassadors of the Guam Military Buildup Program.
This is becoming very stressful for local civil service
workers and federal contractors who are looking to expand business without a
responsible federal funded response laid out for all to see-the Sequester or Guam Buildup alike.
I do not think Admiral Locklear's remarks were helpful to local businesses who are waiting for the green light to begin the Guam Buildup or even more pressing the Congressional budget process for this new fiscal year. The end result. No budget, no federal spend-at least not right away. And while many
construction related organizations bolted, a handful are waiting out what is
next for Guam. The rest of the economy
is doing the same as well as the "New Normal" continues across every American community. Please keep
an eye on this important issue as it seems that there will be major impacts to
every business sector in the Territory.