Oil spill is an understatement. A spill signifies something that happens in a few hours or days. This situation is constant pollution from a military base over a long period of time obviously brought on by inept, uneducated and complacent military staff. Our military has dropped the requirements for a minimum of a high school education. Now these same uneducated people, some gang members and convicted felons, are in charge of the world's most dangerous weapons. Never forget Tim McVeigh was regular Army.

It's just a matter of time. Major pollution occurs on and around all military bases and installations. Even Navy ships operate outside all pollution regulations dumping raw sewage, trash and chemicals into our rivers, lakes and coastal waters. When asked about this polluting the response is, "We are the arm of the government and aren't bound by pollution laws." Now the military claims to be our protector, but in reality they may be our largest threat.

I want to remind you that the only nculear explosions ever set off in this country were our own government's military arm. There are thousands of our own citizens still suffering from this dangerous disregard of public health. Military equals pollution and that's a fact.

What about our use of depleted uranium shells and bombs? This ordnance is radioactive and not only bombs the innocent citizens of foreign countries but leaves them with a polluted country. My neighbor loaded airplanes with this type of ordnance for over a year and now has leukemia.

Another thing the military likes to claim is how they guarantee our personal liberties. Military installations are dangerous no matter where they are and need more ecological scrutiny.

Edward L. Barlow

Grindstone Island