An interesting letter i found, since i'm stuck inside & can't go out. The weather they are making is horrible, with weird rain that blows in the wind like styrofoam. So this was a visit from Sec of the Navy to Seattle in 2008. I cannot get this letter to Copy/Paste or get it linked anywhere at all. So i am hand typing it. Here goes:
Remarks by Donald C. Winter (appropriate as he is in charge of creating winter in the NW all year round!) Secretary of the Navy
Seattle Community Development Roundtable / WA Athletic Club
Seattle, WA Monday June 2, 2008
Distinguished guest, Navy League members, ladies, gentlemen, I am very pleased to be here among this distinguished group.
Your leadership in the business community is critical to the economic viability of this great city and this region.
Real community development is not a product of government or of new bureaucratic arrangements. It is a result of the actions of private individuals- entrepreneurs, risk- takers with their own capital at risk, and the wise response to changes in the marketplace.
The Navy & the Marine Corps would like to continue to be a part of the communities surrounding the Pacific NW as we proudly serve in our nations armed forces in one of the most beautiful regions in the country.
Today I would like to discuss with you an issue that concerns me greatly- an issue that challenges the long- standing relationship between the Navy and our host communities - enroachment.
In that regard, I note that communities in the Puget Sound region have taken many positive steps with respect to that relationship, with many officials displaying an admirable perspective and understanding of the long term issues involved.
Such a perspective stands in stark contrast to what we have seen in many other areas, and I would like to thank you for your support for what we do.
It is my intent here today to impress upon you how important it is to the Navy and the country that you continue acting in such an enlightened and responsible manner.
Enroachment is often a result of different priorities and different agendas as they relate to economic interests associated with land surrounding military installations. Enroachment can also take the form of efforts to directly constrain military operations in the interest of environment protection or quality of life considerations.
Unfortunately, in either case, the impact on our ability to train and operate can be severe and threaten to undo the decades of partnership we have established with civilian communities across the U.S.
to be continued:

con't
We need the military. From the time of the Founding Fathers, there has never been a realistic vision of the U.S. that has not included capable, trained and ready forces to deter aggression and protect us from those who may wish to do harm.
Indeed, it is a Constitutional imperative. Many people may not realize the importance of training to operations. Aircraft cannot land on carriers and ships cannot get underway without personnel who have developed the expertise to do so over years of training.

con't
Many people may not realize the critical importance of training to our operations. Aircraft cannot land on carriers and ships cannot get underway without personnel who have developed the expertise to do so over years and years of training.
This is an obvious point to those who serve in uniform, but it is easy to forget for those less familiar with the nature of our operations and who might see a multi-billion dollar ship and not realize just what is expected of the personnel who operate that ship. Thurs, any constraint on our ability to train is a threat to the very core of our Nation's security.
Training defines our ability to operate in peacetime and in war.
Military op - even in time of peace - incur by their very nature, a certain amount of risk. We are required to manage risk, in our everyday op's. Maintaining a very high degree of training discipline is essential to the objective. It is inconceivable that we would ask pilots to land on an aircraft carrier - especially at night, without having first gone ghru the entire training pipeline. Without proper training & facilities, they cannot do their jobs.
In many ways, the communities in this region have been leaders in resisting the trend towards enroachment, pro-actively avoiding some of the conflicts that have arisen elsewhere in the country.
Far-sighted responsible actions have been taken at Whidbey Island to avoid future land use that would enroach on Navy mission activities.
The land use controls local officials have adopted , combined with other innovative ways of providing buffer zones so as to restrict economic development, protect the public and protect the Navy's military op's and training.
The cooperative measures that have been taken by communities around Whidbey Island will allow us to continue performing our vital mission.
It is part of any community's civic responsibility to support those charged by the Constitution to defend us - not only in principal, but concretely, in matters such as stewardship of the military's relationship with civilian communities.
to be con't
yikes any comments? i got chills

The battle between Mother Nature and the Weather Manipulators is one around here. The sun wants so to shine, but they aren't about to let it. They seem to have unlimited amounts of lethal cloud making substances... does it ever end? help - i want the old Northwest BACK! Ok so here we go....
con't
Sec of the Navy Donald Winter June 2 2008 address in Seattle
In many ways, a community's search for he right balance is a classic case of short term and long - term interests in conflict and I would argue that many development ideas that are attractive in the short term do not serve the long term interests of the community.
In the Pacific NW, communities are achieving that balance and I would like to thank Island county and Oak Harbor officials, in particular, for what they are trying to do to avoid these problems.
I have received their development plans, and they are as good as any I have seen.
On the other side of the country, however, we are facing a real challenge in locating an area for usse as an Outlying Landing Field.