Burning Question: Will the Marines cause Guam to tip over?
One congressman's concern that an entire island could "capsize."
The island of Guam isn't very big: 209 square miles. But it's home to a substantial American military presence that's slated to grow even bigger in the years ahead as the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force makes the island it's home.
That has Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., concerned, the Los Angeles Times reports. At a hearing last week, Johnson quizzed Adm. Robert Willard, head of the U.S. Pacific fleet, on the implications of the shift. Suffice it to say they probably weren't quite what Willard was expecting.
"My fear is that the island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize," Johnson said.
A nonplussed Willard replied, "Uhh, we don't anticipate that."
Now Johnson says he was just joking. Judge for yourself by watching the videotape. (The good part starts at 1:16.)
Democrat Rep. Hank Johnson worries loading too many people onto Guam could capsize the island
("Top of the Ticket," Los Angeles Times)
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