Editor,

First, I am grateful that Congressman Rick Larsen and his staff stand firmly against nonstrategic attempts to ground the Growlers by noise agitators and annoyed Pentagon bureaucrats. I wish others realized the strategic consequences of unclear public support for NAS Whidbey Island.

Here’s a strategic question: Without the county government being well funded – primarily by NAS Whidbey Island generated economic activity — how will the Town of Coupeville and Island County pay for public services?

Also, moving the Growlers would require years of conducting an expensive second Environmental Impact Study, litigation by noise agitation groups and construction. Some remedy for Coupeville – every American community would have to pay. Although I do not know, I suspect some Growler squadrons could be disbanded partly due to noise agitation groups’ activism while those needing OLF Coupeville keep bouncing. Nonstrategic actions all around.

Plus the longer these noise agitation groups litigate – I fear the future of Ebey’s Reserve could go to the same U.S. Supreme Court blissfully undoing decades of environmental protections. Or too many public statements about losing historical integrity because someone thought, “Someone should do something,” without thinking thru strategic consequences?

With that, I have joyfully stood 525 feet or closer to Field Carrier Landing Practice at OLF Coupeville. I know others want to, so for a “remedy,” there are aviation enthusiast magazines where members of noise agitation groups may market their homes.

One last strategic question on noise agitation groups’ motives: Considering that according to the AAA, a car hitting a pedestrian at 50 miles per hour has a 75% chance of killing the pedestrian while and an EA-18G Growler has not killed one American. Why are noise agitation groups more agitated about the Growler than high speeds on Highway 20 going through Ebey’s Reserve destroying historic buildings and endangering human life?

Joe A. Kunzler

Skagit County