Sailors line up aboard the guided missile frigate USS Gary as it sails into Sihanoukville port, some 185 kilometers (115 miles) southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, Friday, Feb. (AP/Heng Sinith)
US navy commander Joseph Deleon from the USS Gary (FFG-51) ship and US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli (L), talk to the press upon arriving at Sihanouk Ville province some 220 kilometers southwest of Phnom Penh. The American navy frigate docked in Cambodia's port town of Sihanouk Ville, becoming the first US military craft to visit the former communist country in more then 30 years.(AFP/Heng Sinith) SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia (AFP) - The American navy's USS Gary docked in this Cambodian port on Friday, becoming the first US military craft to visit the former communist country in more than 30 years.
The visit, which diplomatic sources say is a first step in expanding military ties with Cambodia, comes amid concerns over China's growing influence in the region.
"Symbolically this is very important," said US Ambassador to Cambodia Joseph Mussomeli, who was aboard as the ship came into port.
"It shows how far Cambodia has come and is taking its rightful place among our community of nations," he said. "Absolutely this shows an expansion, a deepening of relations -- not just military, but humanitarian and diplomatic."
Like most Western countries, the United States abandoned Cambodia in 1975 when the ultra-leftist Khmer Rouge seized power, beginning what would become nearly 15 years of isolation for the tiny Southeast Asian nation.
Following the 1979 fall of the regime, which received significant aid from China, Cambodia was occupied by Vietnam for a decade. Much of the power structure put in place by Hanoi during that time remains today.
Mussomeli downplayed the timing of the vessel's visit, which comes as China is expanding its military as well as increasing aid to Cambodia, including military hardware.
Beijing in 2005 gave Cambodia two patrol boats to bolster its ageing navy.
"We do not see this as a competition," the ambassador said.
The Gary, a 4,100-tonne guided missile frigate, will remain in port for four days, during which US personnel will provide medical care at a nearby village as well as provide toys and clothing to a local orphanage.
US sailors will also compete against their Cambodian counterparts in sporting events.
The visit, which diplomatic sources say is a first step in expanding military ties with Cambodia, comes amid concerns over China's growing influence in the region.
"Symbolically this is very important," said US Ambassador to Cambodia Joseph Mussomeli, who was aboard as the ship came into port.
"It shows how far Cambodia has come and is taking its rightful place among our community of nations," he said. "Absolutely this shows an expansion, a deepening of relations -- not just military, but humanitarian and diplomatic."
Like most Western countries, the United States abandoned Cambodia in 1975 when the ultra-leftist Khmer Rouge seized power, beginning what would become nearly 15 years of isolation for the tiny Southeast Asian nation.
Following the 1979 fall of the regime, which received significant aid from China, Cambodia was occupied by Vietnam for a decade. Much of the power structure put in place by Hanoi during that time remains today.
Mussomeli downplayed the timing of the vessel's visit, which comes as China is expanding its military as well as increasing aid to Cambodia, including military hardware.
Beijing in 2005 gave Cambodia two patrol boats to bolster its ageing navy.
"We do not see this as a competition," the ambassador said.
The Gary, a 4,100-tonne guided missile frigate, will remain in port for four days, during which US personnel will provide medical care at a nearby village as well as provide toys and clothing to a local orphanage.
US sailors will also compete against their Cambodian counterparts in sporting events.
10 comments:
American-Values-----> You have Oil
Uncle Sam sleeps with Hun Sen,even we know have a HIV positive.
Congratulation& welcome to Cambodia
I'm COM'in, my Khmer frienz ;-)
I'm watchin' ya all.
Kmeng wat knong srok. Listen my friend. Don't worry about who say what not, because you cannot stop others. Look up for yourself. Do well in school and you getta do real well.
Apply a scholarship. Are you good in Math? If so then go for computer science or computer engineer, or chemical engineer, etc..
If you are one of the top 10 the US want you right away.
I am helping a few Khmer students, heck I don't know who are those students but they are good in Math. I pay them to study $50 USD/month each student. You can say I brag I don't care, it's real anyway.
Go and tell those Khmer boys and girls to concentrate in schools.
Good luck and take care
C'ya all.
Stop the bullshit, Fluke's Boy.
Try to contact your Embassy and
get these soldiers out of here.
We don't want our Cham people to
become suicide bombers if you know
what I mean.
Don't promote the "Terrorist" you will be caught. Focus on your work, otherwise your stars will fall. My friend 3:54 PM, i'll assure you that your stars will drop. DO NOT Under Estimate the posters behind the screen.
The Terrorists will be captured and no place to hire.
Let be serious. Either you learn to be a civilized human being or learn how to use a diplomacy instead of behaving like a primitive Taliban.
Uncle SAM Watching You all. Feel free to express but "Terrorist?" we'll come for you my friend.
Peace
KHMENG WAT KHNONG SROK
TO
moi28
THANK THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSION... AND YOUR SENSE OFHIGH DEGREE OF PATRIOTISM! GOD BLESSES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!!
UNFORTUNATELY, MATHS IS NOT FOR ME... I AM JUST GOOD TO TAKE CARE THE MONKS AT THE PAGODA AND GOING THERE AND THERE TO BEG FOR FOOD AND DONATIONS AND KEEP FOR THE MONKS. NIGHT TIME I HAVE THE PERMISSION TO STUDY ENGLISH AND INTERNET...
BUT I WISH TO SEE AN EXPANSION AND A DEEPENING OF BROTHERHOOD AND MOTHERHOOD BETWEEN OVERSEAS AND KHMENG WAT KHNONG SROK...
THIS IS MY DESTINY... MAYBE AFTER BEING INSULTED AND LOOKED DOWN, THEY WILL FINALLY STOP AND WASH THEIR SINS !
I KEEP GOING TO FULFILL MY RELIGIOUS MISSION FOR THE SAKE OF THE KHMER UNITY...
KHMENG WAT KHNONG SROK
Whether competition or not, it is a show off on one side of the isle. The time will tell when the Bald White Head Eagle and Red Dragon will enter the ring to twist arms and legs musles in Cambodia. No doubt Vietnam will open her ports for US Navy in the next late decade. The question is not "if" but "when" PM Hun Sen will play what roles exactly like former King used to dance between the two giants.
There are yet lot of barriers to
overcome before the US can
influenced Vietnam.
Vietnam just seek economic
Interest but not beyond that.
khmeng wat, if you only stay in wat and beg for monks, then you have right to debate us of what we know. our view of the world is as the world itself. our mind is not small, our heart is big, our vision is wide, our future is great. there is nothing compare to have a sense of freedom and free from oppression. you must get out of wat and go further to see the world. i tell you it is big and wide my fried. let get our and broaden your mind. then when you return you can say more.
hun sen adviser, you are dreaming.
You better advise that idiot Hun thug careful, before he may mess up and chase all the investors away from Cambodia.
>Hun Sen advisor said...
>Whether competition or not,
>it is a show off on one side
>of the isle. The time will
>tell when the Bald White Head >Eagle and Red Dragon will enter >the ring to twist arms and legs >musles in Cambodia. No doubt >Vietnam will open her ports for >US Navy in the next late decade. >The question is not "if" >but "when" PM Hun Sen will
>play what roles exactly like >former King used to dance
>between the two giants.
>4:38 AM
My friend, KHMENG WAT KHNONG SROK
Whatever you do just try your best to stay away from hurting/harming other human beings.
Don't put yourself down or said you are not good or smart enough, you cannot do math or cannot add or substract, etc.. I believe you can do like others.
You are smart just that you don't have others to guide you or may be you have financial problems I don't know.
Learning Math requires a lot of discipline and patient and practice a lot, and I believe you can do. But if you are good in something you don't have to be good in Math, somrthing that will help you and your community. Go on line and read & learn more about others, for example, the USA.
http://www.state.gov/
http://www.dol.gov/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/
...or other countries.
...
DO NOT Lose Hope, and remember be Humble, you will be rewarded.
Good luck my friend
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