US Policy Speech: Kwajalein Atoll, important asset within DoD  Bottom

  • YokweOnline
    YokweOnline
    • Registered: Jul 10, 2002
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    Link to this post Posted: Sep 30, 2010 - 06:32 PM
    Kurt M. Campbell, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, gave testimony today before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, in Washington, DC.

    His comments about the FAS follow:

    Freely Associated States

    We have unique historical ties with the Freely Associated States (FAS) of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The three FAS are an important component of the U.S. position in the Pacific. Starting in 1947 the United States administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which included the Northern Mariana Islands in addition to the islands that eventually became the FAS. After many years of consultation, the RMI and the FSM became sovereign nations in 1986 and Palau followed suit in 1994. Through our respective Compacts of Free Association, the United States has maintained extraordinarily close relations with the FAS, providing over $200 million in annual assistance, administered by the Department of the Interior, to support their governance and economic development.

    Our Compacts of Free Association codify relationships between the United States and these former components of the Trust Territory that are unprecedented in U.S. diplomatic history. Each member of the FAS is a sovereign country, and our dealings with the FAS fall within the scope of foreign policy, but our ties with them differ from those with other nations in several fundamental ways. We provide the people of the FAS direct access to the services of over 40 U.S. federal domestic programs and to U.S. government funding at a per capita rate greater than that for any other foreign government; we take responsibility for the security and defense of each of these island states in return for denial of third-country military access to the FAS; and we give FAS citizens the right to work and live in the United States as nonimmigrant residents within the parameters laid out in the Compacts.

    The importance of this special relationship is most clearly manifested in the U.S. defense posture in the Asia Pacific. The U.S. defense relationships in the Asia-Pacific, which form a north-south arc from Japan and South Korea to Australia, depends on our strong relationship with the FAS, which along with Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and the smaller U.S. territories comprise an invaluable east-west strategic security zone that spans almost the entire width of the Pacific Ocean. The Freely Associated States contribute to U.S. defense through the U.S. Army base on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands that houses the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense test site, an important asset within the Department of Defense. Furthermore, the FAS’ proximity to Guam is important to US defense interests as the United States has a vital interest in maintaining the ability to deny any hostile forces access to sea lanes that protect our forward-presence in Guam and beyond. Our relationships with the FAS allow the United States to guard its long-term defense interests in the region.

    Moreover, while the FAS do not maintain their own military forces, under the terms of our Compacts their citizens are eligible to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Micronesians, Marshallese and Palauans volunteer to serve in the U.S. military at a rate higher than in any individual U.S. state. We are grateful for their sacrifices and dedication to promoting peace and fighting terrorism.

    But the importance of our strong relationship with the FAS extends beyond defense considerations. We applaud recent efforts, including on the part of RMI, to explore ways to take into account the effects of climate change in development projects, including many undertaken through the Compact. Such planning is critical to ensure sustainability and effective progress in the FAS, and we continue to support work to “climate proof” all development activities. The Freely Associated States also have one of the highest levels of voting coincidence with the United States in the United Nations and generally share our vision on important international goals for human rights and democracy. Palau accepted six former detainees from Guantanamo for temporary resettlement.



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  • Nitijaje
    • Registered: May 20, 2004
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    Link to this post Posted: Sep 30, 2010 - 11:12 PM
    LOL why nuthin about LUA?????
  • InterestedObserver
    • Registered: Nov 17, 2008
    • Last visit: Jul 15, 2011
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    Link to this post Posted: Oct 01, 2010 - 08:43 PM
    Because the Land Use Agreement (LUA) is an issue between the RMI government and the Kwajalein landowners. The Kwajalein landowners need to give their permission, the LUA, for the RMI government to continue to provide the land for use by the missile range.
  • Konejeknen
    • Registered: Sep 11, 2010
    • Last visit: Oct 11, 2010
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    Link to this post Posted: Oct 03, 2010 - 08:42 AM
    IO... do you remember the last time the NIJELA went talk to the US with-out the Kwajalein reps? It was totally unacceptable and Non-Kwajalein people (officials) talking on behalf of the Kwajalein People... Yes, those guys (and i'm not going to mention name here) are also from Kwajalein by blood, but they have never spend a night on the soil of Ebeye... The tru Kwajalein People now living on Ebeye and not on their preferred soil are suffered for long time...

    Nitijaje, Read carefully to the article... This Kurt Campell is talking good about the Kwajalein as a very important asset to the US and they must support fully to the people... Don't you worry about the LUA not being mentioned here... That is only for a deeper infos...

    Anyhow, I thank you both you for your commends... this really helps us all in deepening our interests.
  • pettittm
    pettittm
    • Registered: Jul 16, 2002
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    Link to this post Posted: Oct 04, 2010 - 12:55 PM
    No one should assume that all these pronouncements about how important USAKA is to the US means the US will not leave if operating there becomes too costly or simply no longer in US interests.

    I am sure if the Internet was in common use in the 80s we would have read similar statements about how critical Clark AB and Subic Bay NB in the Philippines were to the US, just before we left both.

    I doubt even US Ambassador Campbell knows what the US will ultimately decide to do if, after all is said and done, the RMI Government cannot produce a new LUA signed by ALL the landowners (an LUA without Imata's signature is worthless).

    The Journal provides some quotes that indicate the landowners believe they are going to put something in place that will free up all the funds in escrow. If that means they are close to signing an LUA that fully accepts the current US offer, with no changes, then hooray! If they are about to propose anything else and ask for the escrow funds to be released, well, maybe pigs started flying in the RMI, too?

    The US, if my understanding is right, has no obligation to officially state "what will happen if" until the five year extension to put a new LUA in place runs out, I believe in late 2013. No one should assume the US will stay or leave, if no LUA is signed. Till then, why should the US vary at all from its current position - no new offers, no new negotiations.

    My belief, as stated many times, is the US should ultimately provide whatever is required to get a signed LUA in place, or leave. Yes, the US can hold the RMI government accountable if it fails to produce a signed LUA, as promised. The reality, though, is that, through its constitution (which the US government vetted) and the deferrnce given by the Marshallese people and government to all traditional landowners (and the Iroj in particular), the RMI has effectively and willingly surrendered its control over this question to the landowners of Kwajalein. If the landowners led the people of Ebeye enmass on a walk across the reef to Kwajalein to reoccupy their land (or do another sail in to block the dock or similar), the RMI, I believe, does not have the power to stop them. Would the US want to see Blog postings and Web cam footage (courtesy of US activists and others the landowners, no doubt, would bring over in advance - thanks US, for highspeed Internet hookup!) of US private guards clubbing Marshallese or dragging a hundred bubu's to a holding cell - and then what do you do, feed and house indefinitely? I doubt it.

    When you REALLY boil it down, the RMI has effectively and willingly surrendered all control over the LUA to one person -- Iroj Imata Kabua. It will take an amendment to the RMI constitution to change that, and any such amendment would impact all the Iroj and landowners, not just Imata. Does anyone think most Marshallese (no one else matters) would support such an amendment?

    Till 2013, unless the landowners sign an LUA under current conditions, its all an entertaining side show, with no true significance.





    edited by: pettittm, Oct 04, 2010 - 06:07 PM

    “I hope the signing of the LUA (Land Use Agreement) allows the Government of the Marshall Islands more time to focus on the biggest issues it faces – how to raise the level of education and health of the Marshallese people and how to create an economy that will be stable after direct US funding ends in 2023.”
    US Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Martha Campbell, as quoted by MI Journal, 13 May 2011, pg 4
  • InterestedObserver
    • Registered: Nov 17, 2008
    • Last visit: Jul 15, 2011
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    Link to this post Posted: Oct 04, 2010 - 09:03 PM
    USAKA was anticipating a new hospital being built to replace the existing aging facility. It will be interesting to see if funding is requested and/or approved in the FY2011 budget. Any major construction project on Kwajalein, such as a new hospital, would extend well past the LUA deadline and could be an indication of US expectations of remaining past 2016.













    edited by: InterestedObserver, Oct 05, 2010 - 05:50 AM
  • pettittm
    pettittm
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    Link to this post Posted: Oct 05, 2010 - 03:46 AM
    Yes, any major investment for infrastructure at USAKA indicates current US intent for future. Not a guarantee, of course.

    Back in early 80s when last "sail in" and mass "reef walk" events from Ebeye took place, there were some major differences:

    - The biggest - no Internet and no easy to do personal video taping and broadcast of "real time events."

    - No longer President, "founding father," and Iroj Supreme Amata Kabua to reign in disparate relatives.

    - More people on Ebeye, and probably more (or at least just as much) under influence of landowners as past.

    - Landowners now are much more astute, I believe on how to use international activists, Internet, and publicity to their advantage. Tony DeBrum, in particular, is very skilled at this and has all needed connnections.

    - Last time around, US still held RMI in "Trust." This time around, US has a sovereign nation that should (but will not be able to) control any protests. US would thus be left with very uncomfortable position of being pictured as oppressing poor Marshallese who are trying to peacefully reoccupy their own land, in a sovereign nation, and the US using force to prevent.

    What have I missed?

    My calculation, advantages have all swung to landowners side, if they decide to push the issue through "people power."


    “I hope the signing of the LUA (Land Use Agreement) allows the Government of the Marshall Islands more time to focus on the biggest issues it faces – how to raise the level of education and health of the Marshallese people and how to create an economy that will be stable after direct US funding ends in 2023.”
    US Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Martha Campbell, as quoted by MI Journal, 13 May 2011, pg 4
  • InterestedObserver
    • Registered: Nov 17, 2008
    • Last visit: Jul 15, 2011
    • Posts: 121
    Link to this post Posted: Oct 05, 2010 - 04:15 AM
    QuoteUP, UP, AND AWAY: Vandenberg Air Force Base launched a Minuteman III test missile this week — capable of delivering a nuclear payload — that traveled 5,300 miles to a target 200 miles southwest of Guam. The test was the third and last of this fiscal year.

    For those of you that think the Kwajalein test range is irreplaceable, think again.
  • anijemman
    • Registered: Oct 16, 2008
    • Last visit: Oct 21, 2012
    • Posts: 103
    Link to this post Posted: Oct 05, 2010 - 10:56 PM
    jen jab aol waj nan armij rane air kwaj.kejron baj bed.air pepe jete wonen kojerbale ailin ne air.
  • Konejeknen
    • Registered: Sep 11, 2010
    • Last visit: Oct 11, 2010
    • Posts: 14
    Link to this post Posted: Oct 06, 2010 - 07:43 AM
    xomol anijemman im mr. campell? let them be... owner is an woner... what evah happens... what goes around, comes around...
  • Sapper
    Sapper
    • Registered: Jan 28, 2004
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    Link to this post Posted: Oct 10, 2010 - 10:41 AM
    Hey Observer, i think u meant to say replaceable. Geographically it's suited for US Defense against any North Korea's IRBM or any of the Chinese/Russian RSM-25. The "Rock" as any kwajsters would call it...IMO, it's worth at least half a dozen Billions for another 80yrs.

    Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It is perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.

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