LET PUERTO RICO GO?

Providence Journal: The 9,400 residents of the island of Vieques, part of which is used as a Navy target range a few miles off southeast Puerto Rico, will vote next November on whether they want the Navy to stay. Many Puerto Ricans have called for an end to the Navy's shelling and bombing. The Navy maintains that live-fire exercises are necessary training for its sailors.
Recently, a delegation traveled from Vieques to Washington to lobby lawmakers there to keep the Navy on the island, only a small part of which is used in the live-fire exercises. Many islanders worry that a Navy pullout would increase unemployment, which is already higher than Puerto Rico's generally.
Independence: Puerto Rico has a ready political option if it feels strongly about Vieques. The majority of the population, in an election, could ask for independence from the United States and Congress and the president could then proceed to give it to the commonwealth. Then the Navy could figure out somewhere else to practice. And Puerto Rico could make its way as an independent country.
Puerto Ricans have conducted repeated referendums on this question, only to quail from the implications when it comes time to cast the ballot. Still, it might well be to everyone's benefit, especially the United States', if Puerto Rico were to leave.
BUSH'S SILENCE IS GOLDEN
The Elkhart (Ind.) Truth: When the 24 military service personnel held in China returned home last weekend, President Bush was not in sight. Instead of seizing the cameras himself, Bush spent a quiet Easter in Texas. Think of how Bill Clinton would have handled the homecoming. He would have hopped aboard Air Force One for a cross-country trip to where news was being made. He would have expressed warm words of welcome and appreciation -- and gained a slice of television time for himself.
Clinton drama: The presence of the president adds intensity to any news event. Clinton was constantly on view at disasters and celebrations as well in situations where some presidential action was required. Adding the Clinton scandals, there seemed to be some kind of Clinton drama going on all the time.
When Bush stays calm, it helps keep the rest of the country calm. Many situations are better understood on their own terms without switching emphasis to the president. A president does not have to make news every day. Less noise is sometimes better. If everything is played too loud, eventually we don't hear anything.