The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
“Scary? Yes, but what can we do? We live on a small island. There’s really nowhere to hide if the attack were to happen.”
A key US military stronghold, Guam was the departure point for US B-52 bombers that attacked Hanoi during the 1955-1975 Vietnam war.
In addition to the military presence, Guam also relies heavily on tourism to boost its economy, attracting more than 1.5 million visitors drawn to its pristine beaches and luxury resorts in 2016.
– ‘Business as usual’ –
Authorities said the regional tensions had not dampened tourists’ appetite for the island.
“It’s business as usual in paradise,” said Josh Tyquengco, marketing director at Guam Visitors Bureau, the official agency for the island.
“I am not aware of any cancellations. This is peak season for Guam. I don’t see North Korea’s story having any impact on tourism at this point.”
But the Guam Daily Post said in an editorial that although the island’s residents were used to North Korea’s threats, the situation was more precarious today because “a feisty, not-so-cool-headed commander-in-chief lives in the White House now”.
The last time Guam feared a North Korean attack, in 2013, tensions eventually simmered down because then US President Barack Obama’s administration avoided a verbal war with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the newspaper said.
“This time, the North Korean threat is different, and more worrisome because North Korea’s Guam-specific threat was reportedly in reaction to President Trump’s statement saying: ‘North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury.’
“So now, the ball is back in Trump’s court. The United States has been threatened via a direct threat to Guam, which isn’t just a host for Air Force and Navy bases. About 162,000 people –- mostly US citizens –- call the island home.”
