Remengesau lashes out at Washington Post
By Bernadette H. Carreon
For Variety
KOROR (Palau Horizon) — President Tommy Remengesau lashed out at a Washington Post article on Palau’s role in the “coalition of the willing.”
Remengesau sent a response to the newspaper and said that the article belittled Palau’s membership in the coalition.
The article by Dana Milbank called Palau one of the six unarmed nations in the coalition along with Costa Rica, Iceland, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Solomon Islands.
Milbank said that although Palau “has the world’s best scuba-diving (sites), delectable coconuts and tapioca, one thing (it) cannot contribute...is military support: It does not have a military.”
“While Palau does not have its own military, many of her sons and daughters currently serve in the United States (armed forces),” Remengesau said.
He said his nephew and the daughter of Palau envoy to the U.S., Hersey Kyota, are serving in the U.S. armed forces.
He said Palau’s joining the coalition is not only symbolic support, adding that there are about 200 Palauans in the U.S. military.
Moreover, he said, Palau has been serving as the recruitment center of soldiers in Micronesia. “I support the U.S. war effort because of my country’s commitment to the universal principles of democracy, freedom and domestic and international security,” Remengesau said.
Palau, he said, is a close friend of U.S. due to the two countries’ special relationship under the Compact of Free Association.
“The heroic efforts of the members of the armed forces (of) the U.S. ... deserve and demand Palau’s clear and unconditional backing. We give this backing willingly and with pride,” Remengesau said.
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