Had that really been the top priority, we would have resumed live-fire training at Vieques suspended by President Clinton and made clear that the island would remain an active exercise area for the foreseeable future.
In September, a twin-engine, two-seat AH-1W Cobra helicopter went down during training in a remote area of Camp Pendleton, killing two Marine pilots and igniting a brush fire that burned about 120 acres at the base north of San Diego.