Jay Bellows asked about comments from residents of American Samoa. Here's a comment from a KH8 licensee who is not currently a resident there. Dave K1ZZ -----Original Message----- From: Alex C.J. van Eijk [mailto:acjvaneijk@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 8:27 AM To: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ Subject: QST de 5Z4DZ Hi Dave - A quick QST from Kenya. It is only now that I have learned about the debacle of Swain's Island. I have read with astonishment the proceedings involving JA1BK and K1ER ostensibly representing the interest of IARU R3 member states but quite clearly driving their own egocentric agendas. As much as this duo accuses the ARRL of wielding political power, they are abusing the priciples and mandate of the IARU and the member states which they claim to represent. How the creation of a new DXCC entity has turned into a cry for freedom for Pacific Territories is anyone's guess. I am glad to learn that the ARRL has acted responsibly in correcting the unintended consequences of the IARU membership rule in the DXCC Rules. Although I recognise that the future of the DXCC program depends on new entities appearing from time to time, I firmly believe that this should not be at the expense of an honourable organisation that was established to protect the interests of Amateur Radio. The IARU was never intended as a mechanism to further the ego's of a few selfish individuals. Best regards. Alex van Eijk 5Z4DZ / PA3DZN and also KH8K (ARRL member, not an ASARA member).