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I sincerely very much appreciate your front-page story “Toxic legacy” (Feb. 1), covering the account of untreated waste generated by former Clark Air Base in the Philippines that, to this day, continues to pollute and harm the local population.

This is a tragic and distressing event that should never have happened, and one that begs the question and raises the importance of how U.S. military bases worldwide are made accountable for their waste disposal — not merely in Europe or Japan with their particularly strong environmental laws.

Very selfish and shameless minds expediently overlooked the need to clean up Clark Air Base (and Subic Naval Base) prior to their turnover to the Philippine government. Those harmed most in the base closing agreement are evidently those who are least empowered and the dispossessed, left to the mercy of a poisoned landscape.

It may come as no surprise that report after report should find the U.S. military, and thus, the U.S. government and the American public, culpable in this “toxic legacy.” The U.S. government should bear responsibility for cleaning up the former Clark Air Base, regardless of whether the Philippine government or its people press the matter. Today we know better, and an environmental disaster of this magnitude on the continental U.S. would raise robust protest besides a slew of lawsuits.

Thank you for a “recovery” of this very sad story, amid the ongoing news events on Haiti, on Iraq or Afghanistan. May like minds in the Obama administration, the U.S. government, our armed forces and the American public genuinely take this issue to heart. I pray that we do the right thing.

Petty Officer 1st ClassJose Maria NacanaynayTallil, Iraq

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