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Clinton Backs Guam Buildup

Monday: April 28, 2008

Democrat contender Hillary Clinton has backed the military buildup on Guam, as the May 3 caucus meeting on Guam nears.

Clinton has told KUAM News that she would continue with the initiative.

"I think it makes a lot of sense…Obviously I will review it, but I feel strongly that moving more of our assets to Guam is in the best interests of the people of Guam and of the United States."

And she has reiterated her support for compensation for wartime suffering for Chamorros. "I think sometimes it takes unfortunately longer than it should to educate people about the justice of a cause like war reparations, or for the people of Guam that suffered under the Japanese occupation during World War II. Just yesterday I rushed to the Senate to vote on behalf of giving the benefits that were promised during World War II to the Filipino veterans who served with American forces. All these years later, we still haven't done it - all these years later we still haven't provided the reparations that the people of Guam were promised.

"As your president I will work very hard to remedy this injustice. I am committed to doing so."

She has told KUAM News she supports Guamanians being permitted to directly vote for a U.S. president. "It seems to me that it is long past time that we remedy this inequity," she explained. "It doesn't reflect American values; it is out of step with the move towards equality and full citizenship rights, and I will do everything I can to make sure the people of Guam's vote are counted."

http://www.kuam.com/news/27578.aspx