Bret,

>I don't remember if any of the more substantial U.S. posessions (U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa) call themselves a commonwealth or if they have the same deal.

Guam and American Samoa are a territories.

>The rest of the old U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific is now all independent, more or less.

Yes; Palau was the last to leave the Trust Territory, becoming independent in 1994 (I was there at that time - pretty exciting).

>The CNMI is a U.S. posession.
I believe that the other entities could be considered "posessions" also...since I don't believe that they could just decide to become totally independent w/out the US's permission...

J