I agree with you, but Saipan is not a territory. It is part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a Federal Protectorate [sp]. It is close to Guam (where I currently live until Monday), which is a territory. The fact that we are allowing this to happen is absurd, these islands need all of the business that America can give them, they are dirt poor and Guam, the jewel of Micronesia, is (IMHO) just barely above third world level (think some of the areas in Mexico around tourist spots, that is what Guam is like)
You're right that Saipan is not a Territory like Guam, but it's not part of the FSM either. It's part of the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas. It has the same political relationship with the U.S. as Puerto Rico.