Ariddia
07-07-2007, 11:58
A SECOND Tonga Defence Service deployment to Iraq is expected within the next few weeks, the US Ambassador to Tonga Mr Larry M. Dinger said in Nuku'alofa on July 4.
Speaking in Nuku'alofa at a reception on board the U.S. Navy Destroyer USS John Paul Jones, Ambassador Dinger, noted that the port visit of the navy ship illustrated the close bilateral military relationship between the USA and Tonga. "A second Tonga Defence Service deployment to the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq in the next few weeks will be further testimony," he said.
[...] In noting that the USA advocated democratic systems for other nations, too, Ambassador Dinger said, "As Tonga strives to recover from last November's tragedy, major issues remain: reconstructing Nuku'alofa's business district; exacting justice for those who did wrong; healing wounds through reconciliation; and certainly continuing past progress toward a more democratic future.
"The United States acknowledges that Tonga's issues are for Tonga to resolve. At the same time, we remain committed to the Asia-Pacific region, including to Tonga, our long-time friend."
[...] In a reply to the Ambassador, Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister Dr Viliami Tangi, recalled that President Bush had made it known that Tonga was his favourite country. This was cofirmed in a CBS News interview in 2004 where Laura Bush, when asked: What is your husband's favorite foreign country? had replied, "That's easy. Tonga. I'll never forget how touched he was the day they came into the coalition of the willing."
The first deployment of Tongans to Iraq was made by 45 Royal Tongan Marines led by the then Colonel 'Uta'atu, in July 2004, where the Royal Tonga Marines were augmenting the 1st Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF) in the Al Anbar Province.
(article (http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/visitors/uss_john_paul_jones_050707_1646.shtml))
When everyone else is thinking of pulling out (Italy, the Ukraine, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Thailand, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Hungary, Nicaragua, Singapore, Norway, Portugal, New Zealand, the Philippines and Iceland have all withdrawn), Tonga decides that it would be a jolly good idea to send more of its soldiers to Iraq... A cynical mind might wonder why on Earth Tongans are involved in Iraq. Because they need the US as an ally, of course.
I find is distinctly amusing that the US forces "democracy" on Iraq, demands it for Cuba, but says that Tonga shouldn't be pushed towards democracy (it's a quasi-absolute monarchy).
Other non-democratic countries which are or have been part of the "Coalition of the Willing" bringing "democracy" to Iraq include Eritrea, who was recently ranked in the bottom five countries in the world for freedom of the press. You've got to love the logic, consistency and honesty of Bush's foreign policy... :rolleyes:
Speaking in Nuku'alofa at a reception on board the U.S. Navy Destroyer USS John Paul Jones, Ambassador Dinger, noted that the port visit of the navy ship illustrated the close bilateral military relationship between the USA and Tonga. "A second Tonga Defence Service deployment to the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq in the next few weeks will be further testimony," he said.
[...] In noting that the USA advocated democratic systems for other nations, too, Ambassador Dinger said, "As Tonga strives to recover from last November's tragedy, major issues remain: reconstructing Nuku'alofa's business district; exacting justice for those who did wrong; healing wounds through reconciliation; and certainly continuing past progress toward a more democratic future.
"The United States acknowledges that Tonga's issues are for Tonga to resolve. At the same time, we remain committed to the Asia-Pacific region, including to Tonga, our long-time friend."
[...] In a reply to the Ambassador, Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister Dr Viliami Tangi, recalled that President Bush had made it known that Tonga was his favourite country. This was cofirmed in a CBS News interview in 2004 where Laura Bush, when asked: What is your husband's favorite foreign country? had replied, "That's easy. Tonga. I'll never forget how touched he was the day they came into the coalition of the willing."
The first deployment of Tongans to Iraq was made by 45 Royal Tongan Marines led by the then Colonel 'Uta'atu, in July 2004, where the Royal Tonga Marines were augmenting the 1st Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF) in the Al Anbar Province.
(article (http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/visitors/uss_john_paul_jones_050707_1646.shtml))
When everyone else is thinking of pulling out (Italy, the Ukraine, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Thailand, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Hungary, Nicaragua, Singapore, Norway, Portugal, New Zealand, the Philippines and Iceland have all withdrawn), Tonga decides that it would be a jolly good idea to send more of its soldiers to Iraq... A cynical mind might wonder why on Earth Tongans are involved in Iraq. Because they need the US as an ally, of course.
I find is distinctly amusing that the US forces "democracy" on Iraq, demands it for Cuba, but says that Tonga shouldn't be pushed towards democracy (it's a quasi-absolute monarchy).
Other non-democratic countries which are or have been part of the "Coalition of the Willing" bringing "democracy" to Iraq include Eritrea, who was recently ranked in the bottom five countries in the world for freedom of the press. You've got to love the logic, consistency and honesty of Bush's foreign policy... :rolleyes: