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Military tells panel Stryker unit is vital

Oct-25-2006 » Filed Under: 2/25 SBCT

By Gregg K. Kakesako, Honolulu Star Bulletin

Government lawyers say that halting Schofield Barracks' $1.5 billion Stryker unit would do "irreparable harm" to the Army, soldiers of the 2nd Brigade and the nation's security.

They oppose a motion by island environmentalists and Hawaiian activists who want the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to approve a temporary order halting all work on Stryker-related activities in Hawaii.

U.S. Justice Department attorneys Andrew Mergen and Michael Gray on Monday said "national security concerns" are more compelling today than they were on Nov. 5, 2004, when a federal court judge rejected environmentalists' first petition for a preliminary injunction.

The Army argued that the 2nd Brigade is scheduled to become a "fully manned, trained and equipped Stryker Brigade Combat Team, ready for deployment by November 2007."

Lt. Gen. John Brown, who heads Army troops in the Pacific, wrote in a letter published Monday in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin that the combat deployment will be to Iraq. This will be the second time the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade will pull combat duty there.

David Henkin, attorney with Earthjustice, said he expects the 9th Circuit in San Francisco will rule on its request for a temporary injunction by Tuesday. [...]


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