Palau

I suggest Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr doesn’t travel to Havana on holiday. As President and chief of state of Palau, who voted along with Israel and the US against ending the US Embargo on trade with Cuba he might have trouble finding a taxi that will take his fare. Previous Presidents, Haruo Remeliik was assassinated in 1985 and Lazarus Salii in 1988 by suicide.

This tiny (Twice the size of Washington DC says the CIA Factbook) Pacific Island archipelago ( Pop. 20,303 (July 2005 est.)) westernmost in the Caroline chain, (500m E of Philippines)consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; including World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu). They opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia – who it must be noted abstained on viting for the UN motion to end the embargo.

The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 63,000 in 2003 – the diving is apparently superb – said to be Number One Underwater Wonder of the World. The population enjoys a per capita income twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia.

…and here’s the kicker … the Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities for up to 50 years which includes ability to launch nuclear weapons and use of the worlds deepest marine valley the Marianas Trench for the new submarine base on nearby Guam.

Tommy Remengesau Jr knows which side his bread is buttered on and allows Ambassador Hersey KYOTA to keep up a swell Chancery (in between voting at UN) at 1800 K Street NW, Suite 714, Washington, DC 20006. Website

The whole area is of course down range for test firings from coastal CA based Vandenburg Air Base home of The 4th Space Launch Squadron which was established 1 December 2003 to lead the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program on the west coast. The squadron's Delta IV (Boeing) and Atlas V (Lockheed-Martin) launch vehicles provide the nation's sole medium/heavy lift capability to polar orbit (i.e for space command vehicles). The 4 SLS combines military, government civilians, and contractors working together to ...bring a vision to life... 100% mission success; one professional launch team defending the U.S. through assured access to space.

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