Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Honolulu Advertiser
December 31, 2007 By William Cole
Adm. Robert F. Willard, the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, has pledged to strengthen the Navy's partnership with Cambodia and the collective security of the region.
Willard, who has his headquarters at Pearl Harbor, acknowledged the importance of a strong relationship with Cambodia in his "Rat-Pac Report" podcast posted Wednesday.
Willard discussed the impact of the recent visits to Cambodia by USS Essex and USS Gary, the U.S. Navy's first port visits there in 30 years. Essex is based out of Japan, and Gary out of San Diego.
In November, Willard traveled to Cambodia to see firsthand Essex's outreach, including medical and dental projects and professional exchanges.
"This was my first opportunity to visit Cambodia, and I had an opportunity to meet with their leadership and talk to them a little bit about how our Navy might help theirs and the relationship between their country and the United States," Willard said.
U.S. Navy doctors, dentists and corpsman from Essex and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted medical and dental civic action projects to help the people of Kampong Cham and the remote village of Kulen from Nov. 28-30.
"They've got senior military leadership and senior political leadership that are trying very hard to be successful and to reform their country," Willard said. "They'd like our help, and we are going to give it to them."
December 31, 2007 By William Cole
Adm. Robert F. Willard, the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, has pledged to strengthen the Navy's partnership with Cambodia and the collective security of the region.
Willard, who has his headquarters at Pearl Harbor, acknowledged the importance of a strong relationship with Cambodia in his "Rat-Pac Report" podcast posted Wednesday.
Willard discussed the impact of the recent visits to Cambodia by USS Essex and USS Gary, the U.S. Navy's first port visits there in 30 years. Essex is based out of Japan, and Gary out of San Diego.
In November, Willard traveled to Cambodia to see firsthand Essex's outreach, including medical and dental projects and professional exchanges.
"This was my first opportunity to visit Cambodia, and I had an opportunity to meet with their leadership and talk to them a little bit about how our Navy might help theirs and the relationship between their country and the United States," Willard said.
U.S. Navy doctors, dentists and corpsman from Essex and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted medical and dental civic action projects to help the people of Kampong Cham and the remote village of Kulen from Nov. 28-30.
"They've got senior military leadership and senior political leadership that are trying very hard to be successful and to reform their country," Willard said. "They'd like our help, and we are going to give it to them."