The purpose of the United States Navy, as with all branches of the armed services, is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the freedoms it provides. It is an organization that centers itself in accountability, honor and integrity. However, its actions in Vieques, Puerto Rico, have resulted in a situation that compromises the very ethics the Navy holds so dear.

For sixty-two years, the Navy conducted training exercises and tested weapons on Vieques. These weapons were created to destroy fighter jets, tanks, even aircraft carriers; in short, to defeat an opposing army. Is it at all shocking that the chemicals necessary to blow up a battle ship are harmful to a developing child? The Island of Vieques was a sponge for toxic waste, with the military dropping 80 million pounds of munitions from 1984-1998 alone! The results on the health of those living on the island are staggering.

Approximately half of the indigenous population suffers from two or more heavy metal poisonings. The infant morality rate on the island is 25% higher than anywhere else in Puerto Rico.  Residents of Vieques have a 30% higher occurrence of cancer than other parts of Puerto Rico with previously rare and extremely deadly cancers occurring with startling frequency. To deny that there is a causal relationship between the prolonged exposure to a multitude of poisonous chemicals and the development of debilitating illnesses, as the Navy is currently doing, is downright laughable.  Denying culpability in Vieques is not only cowardly; it calls into question the integrity the Navy has worked so hard to cultivate.

Vieques is a U.S. territory. The people that live there are citizens of the United States. They are entitled to the full protection of their freedom by the Navy. Not only has the Navy failed to protect the freedom of people of Vieques; it has put them at grave risk.  While it will undoubtedly be a blow to the Navy's pride and image to admit its mistake in Vieques, it is inherent to the character of the organization to do so.  By acknowledging that there is a crisis in Vieques, resulting from their actions and urging the government to take appropriate measures to correct the damage, the Navy would be stepping forward with the integrity for which it is known. There are risks to defending our country and with these risks come consequences.  The United States Navy took a great risk by testing weapons on Vieques. Now must step up honorably and accept these consequences.