WASHINGTON (27 Mar 2003) -- Irate Northern Pacific island states on Thursday fiercely rebutted media sarcasm whipped up by their role in the US-led war on Iraq, arguing they offered the "coalition of the willing" far more than coconuts, tapioca and scuba diving. Nursing wounded pride, several governments complained that scoffing at their presence in President George W. Bush's much lampooned coalition was an insult to Pacific islanders who put their lives on the line alongside US troops in Iraq. Palau, the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean are among nearly 50 nations listed in a coalition that the Bush administration says represents 1.23 billion people. Solomon Islands denies that it backs the coalition, although the White House website's list of coalition members still features the South Pacific country's name. The Washington Post stoked their ire when it pointed out in a light hearted story questioning administration portrayals of the coalition on Tuesday that the Pacific island states could hardly be considered military superpowers. "Palau, an island group of nearly 20,000 souls in the North Pacific, has much to contribute," the article said. "It has some of the world's best scuba diving, delectable coconuts and tapioca. One thing Palau cannot contribute, however, is military support: It does not have a military." Rhinehart Silas, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Palau embassy in Washington was still fuming on Thursday. "Coconuts and tapioca and scuba diving to offer? That is insulting, that is outrageous," he said. "The Republic of Palau has over 200 citizens serving in the United States armed forces. They put their lives in danger, many of them are now serving in the war zone." | | Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia have citizens in US forces as a result of a Compact of Free Association with the United States, which secured their independence after years as US dependent territories following World War II. The Washington ambassador of the Marshall Islands also pointed out that his citizens were risking their lives with US troops. "If suggesting that the only thing our small 'unarmed' nations have to offer in support of the coalition is coconuts and scuba diving is sarcasm, that doesn't excuse failure to get the facts straight," said ambassador Banny deBrum. "It this is the Post's idea of humor, we don't get it," he said. "They are all willing, they are all able, and they are all defending our country," the ambassador said. DeBrum said that several Marshall Islands citizens were currently fighting with the elite 101st Airborne Division and the Third Infantry Division in Iraq. The State Department concurred with the Pacific Islanders' complaints. "Let's not sneer at some of the small countries that are participating in this," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. "I think I saw a very eloquent letter from one of their ambassadors who said he has children and nephews who are soldiers in the US Army." The Philippines is a member of the United States coalition. A Filipino-American is among the American prisoners of war currently held by Iraq. |
