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An Open Apology to Tonga, Member of the Coalition of the Willing
To the Tongolese: I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for writing on Friday that you're not a member of the Iraq coalition. Sure, the Congressional Research Service said you had pulled out. But according to this Pentagon quasi-press release today, you deployed 55 members of your Tonga Defense Services last month to guard MNF-I headquarters in the Baghdad International Airport complex. It's not exactly a combat mission, but still, this is a huge contribution: Tonga, a South Pacific island nation with a population of under 120,000, has only 450 men under arms.
Says Pacific Command chief Admiral Tim Keating:
Keating, who observed the Tongan troops during a Khaanquest training exercise earlier this summer in Mongolia, said he has no doubt of their capabilities. “They’re very tough,” he said. “They’re not just very good; they’re first class.”
My apologies, Tonga -- and, yes, to President Bush as well.
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Comments (12)
electricphoto wrote on September 17, 2007 8:17 PM:And thereby one can see the difference between the right wing lie and smear factory and the so called left-wing-blogs.
Make a mistake? Admit it, correct it, apologize and move on... what a concept.
No wonder the lie factory goes after the so called left wing blogs - honesty and accountably - THE NERVE!
Nice.
PwapVt wrote on September 17, 2007 8:38 PM:That would be Tongans, not Tongalese.
been there.
TheraP wrote on September 17, 2007 8:55 PM:Tongans, please forgive me if I use this short thread here to commend the new Muckraker look!
Makes the muck look that much dirtier in these nice clean threads!
Bravo!
Anonymous wrote on September 17, 2007 9:52 PM:Apologize - Why.
What a shmuck
olo wrote on September 17, 2007 9:53 PM:Apologize - Why.
GeorgeBush43 wrote on September 17, 2007 10:21 PM:What a shmuck
You guys are missing the point.
The article is Tonga in cheek.
--GWB
Uncle_Meat wrote on September 17, 2007 10:54 PM:For what it's worth..
I'm thinking the focus of this article is a bit misdirected.
If, and when all possible, attacks need to be focused upon the bush, the dick, so on so forth... the good Tongans were just (benifit of the doubt) trying to do their fair share. Maybe they are misinformed.. hell, 30% here in the states still think this administration was a good idea...
That the current administration felt the need to add the good country of Tonga to its questionable "coalition of the willing" is strectching the fabric of reality, suggesting they've been in the trenches since day one, when in reality, they deployed Aug. 18..
goatchowder wrote on September 18, 2007 4:42 AM:YOU FORGOT TONGA!
JEP wrote on September 18, 2007 9:23 AM:stupid rednecks!
Johann wrote on September 18, 2007 9:30 AM:Anyone curious concerning what Tongas troops were doing in Mongolia? Why the training there?
Lars Thorwald wrote on September 18, 2007 10:14 AM:Want to know more about the relationshihp between some of the So Pacific Island nations, check out the history of republic of Palau (Belau)- also a member of "the coalition."
US blocked 4 constitutions (through the UN Security council) and assasinated their nationalist president before they agreed to a "compact" which provided US military access and boatloads of welfare in perpetuity.
You call it free asociation, I call it empire.
tonganonymous wrote on September 18, 2007 10:04 PM:perhaps Mr. Ackerman would like to clarify: is this post meant to be comical, or is it in fact sincere?
anxiously awaiting an update,
tonganonymous