Embattled Island Palau's Struggle for Independence

Subjects:

• History » American History -- 1946 to Present
• History » American Diplomatic History
• Political Science » International Relations
• History » Asian History

Reviews:

• A participant-observer, Liebowitz blends personal knowledge of persons and events with an objective analysis of the political dynamics of the decolonization process. Heavily documented, the work will stand for a long time as the definitive work on Palau. Liebowitz's book represents a valuable case study in the negotiations of the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US. It belongs in academic libraries with significant holdings in the Pacific region or international relations.
  —
  Choice
• Arnold Leibowitz has insightfully touched upon the country's more intimate matters with the unique deftness of a sympathetic federal status negotiator. Involved with U.S. territorial matters since 1964, the author has written extensively on the subject, including the critically acclaimed Defining Status: A Comprehensive Analysis of U.S. Territorial Relations, which has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and a number of lower courts. The two books have much in common--politically oriented, articulate and scholarly, very comprehensive and unusually balanced--which, undoubtedly, should serve as a standard bearer for Pacific scholars.
  —Pacific Magazine
• Embattled Island is a must read for those interested in Pacific affairs.
  —Pacific Sunday News

• Endorsement From Professor Dirk Anthony Ballendorf
  Micronesian Area Research Center, University of Guam: Wonderful, and quite readable....this book is a poignant and exciting account of part of the formation of one of the world's newest and smallest nations. All Pacific-philes will want to read it.

Table of Contents:

• Preface
• Introduction
• Note on Pronunciation of Palauan Names
• The Cast of Characters
• Chronology of Events in Palau
• The Suicide of President Salii: The Strange Funeral
• Palau's Universe: The West Intrudes
• The U.S. Invasion: The Brutal Battle for Peleliu
• The "Nuclear Free" Constitution; The Compact Fails
• Remeliik's Reelection Campaign; The Role of the Compact
• The Power Plant Purchase; Great Britain Seeks a U.S. Guarantee
• The Assassination of Palau's First President; The Controversial Acquittal
• An Unusual Legal Assignment; Greenpeace Enters the Fray
• Two-Thirds of the Government Furloughed; Palau Amends Its Constitution; Salii Testifies Under Oath Before the U.S. Congress
• The Ibedul and Salii Settle the Compact Case; The Palau Women Refile the Lawsuit
• The Case Proceeds to Judgment; Bedor Bins is Murdered
• The Women Suddenly Withdraw; Judge Hefner Suggests Intimidation
• Washington Reacts; De Lugo and Farrow Mobilize Against the Compact
• Salii Stars at the Solarz Committee Hearing; the Women Testify Before the Senate
• The Case Filed Once More; Judge Hefner Overrules the Popular Vote; Salii Reluctantly Appeals
• Farrow Tries Secret Diplomacy; De Lugo Introduces His Compact Bill and Hoodwinks the GAO
• The Appellate Court Argument; The Changed Mood in Palau
• The Unthinkable Occurs
• The Case is Finally Decided; I am Disappointed, Palau is Not; Greenpeace Bitter
• Congress Fails to Approve the Compact: An Unexpected Successor to Salii
• The GAO Report; The Evaluation of Salii; Political Paralysis in Palau
• Bedor Bins' Murderers Named; Remeliik Assassins Revealed
• At Last: Ratification of the Compact; New Lawsuits are Filed
• Commemoration of the Battle of Peleliu: The Special Palauan Conference
• Resolution of the Lawsuits
• Independence Day
• Endnotes
• Bibliographical Note
• Index