For years the Navy has broken promises and avoided following recommendations by Congress and past presidents to search for alternatives to Vieques. Even three retired U.S. Navy commanders, including Lt. Comdr. Rafael E. Matos, admit that they have been "less than perfect neighbors" and that they broke many of the promises to the people of Vieques made in the 1983 Memorandum of Understanding between the armed forces and the government of Puerto Rico, such as reducing the amount of live bombs dropped on Vieques. Matos went as far as stating, "It's time to give back Vieques."

The people of Vieques do not trust a Navy whose own officers admit to blatant violation of its treaties with the Puerto Rico Government. The president owes the 9,300 people of Vieques an apology for the abuses of power performed by a Navy which he commands. The only way to ensure that the Navy will leave Vieques from here to the year 2004 is by ordering their immediate withdrawal from the island. If he lets the Navy stay in Vieques, there is a strong probability that a following president will ignore Clinton's recommendation and permit further bombardment in Vieques. This is not a far-fetched possibility but the story of Vieques' history since 1981, when Congress recommended the Navy should leave Vieques as soon as possible. President Clinton should recognize that a just decision by a democratic president is long overdue.

Hans S. Perl-Matanzo '01 is a social anthropology concentrator in Cabot House. He is the director of the Global Student Movement for Peace in Vieques, Now.