Renewable Revolution

THE MYTH OF MITIGATION

The Free Press’ September 28 editorial on the F-35 – which essentially said, learn to live with it— plays into the disinformation campaign that has been waged by politicians and the GBIC.

They consistently talk about “mitigating” the dangers to our area from basing this fighter-bomber in a densely populated neighborhood.
But the whole problem is that the dangers cannot be mitigated. That’s not an opinion. That’s a fact.

The reason why the Air Force states that 8,000 people will end up living in a zone that is “incompatible for residential use” is because mitigation is impossible. That’s why they conclude, “land acquisition and relocation is the only alternative.”

The fact that intense noise blasts from existing F-16s cannot be mitigated is the reason why many homes near the airport are now vacant. The noise blast from F-35’s will be 3 to 4 times louder.

Not one of the politicians or the GBIC has offered any facts to dispute the harm to residents that is detailed in both the Air Force and World Health Organization reports. They have chosen to stonewall and refuse to meet with residents in the area.

But extreme noise blasts are not the only problem. Newly designed fighter jets have a very high crash rate during the first years after they become operational. The Air Force has confirmed this.

That’s why a newly designed fighter-bomber has never before been based at a residential airport such as Burlington’s. They have always been based at military bases in remote areas until the bugs have been worked out.

The F-35 is particularly problematic should a crash occur because it is loaded with 18,000 pounds of fuel and is made from highly flammable composite materials–42% by weight–that emit very toxic fumes and fibers when burned. Moreover, the fire produced from composite materials is far different from fire from a burning metal aircraft.

As the Boston Globe reported, Burlington would not have been selected were it not for political pressure from Senator Leahy. He has stated that he believes it is an honor for the Vermont Guard to be the first recipient of the new Joint Strike Fighter.

I support and respect the men and women in the Guard. However, if being the first to have this plane is an honor, it is one that dishonors the people who live near the airport. This is not being a good neighbor. This is not something whose dangers and noise can be “mitigated”. And it’s a strange kind of honor that seeks to have Vermont be the first base for a botched fighter-bomber that Senator John McCain has called “one of the great national scandals.”

I don’t know if it’s a developer’s bonanza, or honor, or pride, or politics that has caused Leahy/Sanders/Welch/Shumlin/Weinberger to act in lockstep,    but I am actually shocked at their callousness in failing to protect the children and adults that will be harmed physically, cognitively, and financially.

The Air Force will not be liable for all of these damages, and neither will the politicians. The City of Burlington will be left holding the bag.

As the landlord of the airport, the City of Burlington has the right to prevent its tenant, the Air Force, from basing F-35s on the City’s property. On October 7, the Burlington City Council has the opportunity, the responsibility, and the obligation to act on a resolution to protect the health and welfare of the citizens living near its airport. May they act in a spirit of care and compassion and reason.
–Ben Cohen, Burlington

“The numbers were fudged…if the scoring had been done correctly,
Burlington would not have been rated higher (than others).”
-  Boston Globe quoting an anonymous Pentagon official

Of all potential F35 bases, only Burlington basing will have an increased impact on residential land.
- Air Force EIS report

Not basing in Vermont is the preferable environmental alternative.
- Air Force EIS report

“It would be more costly to do [F35] missions at Burlington… but political promises were made.”
- Anonymous Pentagon official

“Putting the F-35 into production years before the first test flight was acquisition malpractice. It should not have been done, OK? But we did it.”

- Frank Kendall, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition

“I take seriously allegations that the scoring process may have been flawed.”     
- Senator Bernie Sanders

Report
Endangered Health: The Threat to Public Health from the Proposed F-35 Basing at Burlington International Airport
Current scientific consensus confirms that health effects of aviation noise, in both children and adults, are far more severe than the Air Force acknowledges

http://www.stopthef35.com/




http://www.stopthef35.com/


“Mayor” Weinberger–F-35 Booster and CEO for the military-industrial-real estate complex
http://www.stopthef35.com/news/

Vermont National Guard, announces that the U.S. Air Force has decided to base the F-35 fighter jet at the Burlington Air National Guard base in South Burlington, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20131203/NEWS02/131203019/Video-F-35-coming-Burlington


So it goes. Everybody knows.