The Conflict

On April 19, 1999, a Marine Corps F-18 pilot, on a practice run on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, misidentified his target and accidentally dropped two 500-pound bombs on Observation Post-1, killing a civilian security guard and injuring four others. The incident sparked large-scale protests against the navy's use of Vieques for live ammunitions training. Protests against U.S. military presence have also occurred in Okinawa and in the Philippines. The United States has tried to negotiate its continued stay at world ports by offering economic incentives, but this may not be enough to staunch the objections.

Health and Ecological

• Civilian health and environmental concerns due to extensive bombings have risen at various sites around U.S. military bases.

Social and Economic

• Nightclubs and prostitution are alleged to...