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EDITORIALS
An idea that's sheer lunacy: Import no chemical weapons
In our opinion
12-31-2008
In an odd, misguided way, the premise that Anniston should recruit more Cold War-era chemical munitions for economic reasons carries a smidgen of logic. Yes, this flawed judgment goes, if Anniston becomes the toxic dumping ground for all of the nation's mustard-agent weapons, our incinerator would gain more business and — Voila! — retain the jobs of the facility's highly trained workforce.
Let's vaporize this idea before it wastes any more of this community's time or energy.
"Build It, Burn It, Forget It" was a slogan on bumper stickers that incineration proponents handed out during the debate prior to the incinerator's coming. Perhaps those folks need to find their stickers to recall promises made.
In no way should Calhoun County's leaders or those on Goat Hill allow any more chemical weapons to be brought into northeast Alabama. That the destruction of mustard-agent weapons poses a lesser risk to the public at large is a hollow component in this proposal backed by Calhoun County Commission Chairman Eli Henderson and Anniston Mayor Gene Robinson.
Anniston's reputation as Alabama's unsightly and unattractive "Toxic Town" is melting away, though the sting of that label still throbs. The toil of those who've worked at the incinerator and on the cleanup of PCBs-polluted properties is paying off for this community.
Soon, those who love Calhoun County can talk about the dark days of the past, when environmental pollution and chemical-weapons dangers were a part of our everyday lives. A critical component of this community's outlook is the complete and safe destruction of Anniston's stockpile and the shuttering of the incinerator. That must happen. Our bright future depends on it.
Any effort that keeps the incinerator operating only damages the standing of Anniston and Calhoun County. That's why this premise must be incinerated like the munitions it proposes to bring into town.
It is shocking to hear that Henderson, a political veteran, and Robinson, a political newcomer, are putting their names to this defective and short-sighted proposal. Putting billion-dollar facilities to good use for the betterment of the nation is one thing; giving local workers a temporary reprieve on seeking new jobs is another. But isn't the long-range goal to move this community past its blighted reputation? Isn't our hope to become a healthier, cleaner, safer place to live?
Yes, it is. That's why this proposal is sheer lunacy. Neither Anniston nor Calhoun County can stand to become America's toxic dumping ground. That premise is rock-solid and sound.