Overview:
Former U.S. Ambassador to Palau John Hennessey-Niland responds to Richard N. Salvador’s recent opinion piece criticizing President Surangel Whipps Jr.’s address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Hennessey-Niland says Salvador’s repeated use of the term “Amerikkkan” is divisive and invokes the Ku Klux Klan, while defending the right of both writers to express their views in a democracy.
The recent “opinion” piece by Richard N. Salvador “A Critical Response to Mr. Surangel Whipps Address at the 81st UN General Assembly on September 23, 2026” needs a response. It is absolutely fine to hold an opinion and to disagree with Presidents – Palauan or American. But as a former U.S. Ambassador to Palau, let me inform Mr. Salvador that the spelling of my country is “America.” I for one am not “Amerikkkan.” Mr. Salvador’s deliberate use, repeatedly, of three letters in his description and spelling of America – to invoke the KKK – is meant to be divisive. To use the abbreviation of such a racist organization in his article isn’t an example of critical thinking, it is cynical, abhorrent, and a blatant attempt to disparage the United States of America. While a great strength of democracy in both Palau and the U.S. is that Mr. Salvador can write what he wants. So is the right to respond.
Ambassador John Hennessey-Niland (Ret)
Director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs,
Distinguished Professor of the Practice and Head of the Diplomacy Concentration, the Bush School of Government and Public Service Department of International Affairs,
Senior Fellow National Defense University Joint Forces Staff College,
Distinguished Adjunct Fellow Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies