Base In The Philippines

[Bruce]

Since I was Air Force...

 

That is because you are a smart guy! In the Air Force it is the OFFICERS who fight and the enlisted guys 'support them'.

[Papa Carl]

Thought you guys might want to see things from the American perspective.

 

 

 

US looking forward to successful base access talks with PH

 

MANILA, Philippines — The United States is confident about the positive conclusion of its base access talks with the Philippines, reiterating its support for the country’s defense buildup and preparedness for disaster response.

In a statement on Tuesday, US Embassy officials expressed hopes that negotiations, set to begin on Tuesday, in Manila, would reinforce the long-standing partnership between the two allies as both keenly pursued a common bid for a more stable Asia-Pacific region.

“We support the Philippine Government in its desire to build a credible defense and respond rapidly during times of humanitarian crisis and natural disasters,” said US Embassy officials in a statement sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“We are optimistic that the first round of negotiations will result in positive outcomes that will further strengthen our 62-year alliance,” officials said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Monday announced the formal start of negotiations between the Philippines and the US on the latter’s expanded access to Philippine military bases, a move that has invited criticism from those long opposed to US military presence here.

Del Rosario earlier said the talks would include discussions on “modalities and parameters” within which US troops would be allowed greater rotational presence in the Philippines under existing bilateral agreements and in compliance with Philippine law, particularly the Constitution.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterated this on Tuesday and said the bounds of the agreement had already been defined in deference to Philippine law.

“The parameters have already been set and both secretaries (Del Rosario and Gazmin) have already stated this yesterday (Monday). These are very clear parameters — respect for Philippine Constitution, the laws and jurisprudence, the preservation of Philippine sovereignty, the non-permanence of US troops and non-exclusivity of use of facilities by US side and the mutuality of benefits,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesman, said.

He also addressed criticism thrown at Del Rosario for leading the effort, particularly remarks of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, saying the official was “drawing attention to himself” in making announcements on the Philippine-US negotiations.

Del Rosario and Trillanes were at opposite ends in 2012, when the top diplomat said the senator’s backchannel effort to settle the territorial dispute with Beijing was “doing more harm than good.”

Trillanes, who has long showed displeasure over Del Rosario’s stay at the DFA, meanwhile accused the official of using the territorial dispute as a leverage to pursue business interests.

“Defending what is ours, securing our nation and keeping our people safe is a combined effort of diplomacy and defense. The close partnership of the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and the DND (Department of National Defense) is of paramount importance. So we need to be transparent to the public. We need to let our people know how we intend to safeguard their welfare at all times,” said Hernandez.

The Philippines looks to the US, its strongest defense ally, in building a “minimum credible defense posture” as it fortifies territorial security amid disputes with military giant China over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Most recently, the Philippine Navy acquired a former US Coast Guard cutter as the country’s latest warship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz. Both countries also continue joint military exercises — activities set to increase once the new agreement is firmed up.

While neutral on the dispute, the United States has been keenly watching over security in the waters, a critical international trade route, as it pursued a strategic pivot to the Asia Pacific amid its gradual troop withdrawal from the Middle East.

The move is viewed in China as an effort to “contain” its rise as an economic and military power in the region.

The Philippines has meanwhile been vocal in criticizing China for incursions in the West Philippine Sea, including sea patrols and fishing trips to the country’s exclusive economic zone. Government believes Chinese ships come and go in at least two of shoals within the country’s maritime boundaries, including the Ayungin Shoal off Palawan and the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales.

Asserting “indisputable sovereignty” over almost all of the waters, China has lashed back at the Philippines for “internationalizing” the regional dispute, an apparent reference to the country’s defense alliance with the US.

In January, the Philippines haled China before the United Nations arbitral tribunal, the only standing legal action in the six-way dispute that also involves Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The legal action aims to nullify China’s nine-dash line claim, which encompasses almost all of the West Philippine Sea, and to halt its incursions into the country’s maritime borders. China has refused to take part in the arbitration but proceedings continue before the five-member ad hoc panel holding court in The Hague.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/83135/us-looking-forward-to-successful-base-access-talks-with-ph

 

 

Papa Carl

[i am bob]

Since I was Air Force...

That is because you are a smart guy! In the Air Force it is the OFFICERS who fight and the enlisted guys 'support them'.[/quote

Close...

The officers fought and we sat back and had a few cold ones! :)

[Cebudick]

I was a marine in Vietnam a million years ago and still today I would not let a navy corpsman buy his own drink in MY bar!

[Jake]

I was a marine in Vietnam a million years ago and still today I would not let a navy corpsman buy his own drink in MY bar!

Sempre Fi Marine!  It would be really nice for ALL of us to get together in PO City (Olongapo, my hometown)

with Gapotwo providing all the boom-boom girls.  Gapotwo is considered the God Father of Olongapo with

his posse of bodyguards (female escorts).....he, he.  

 

Actually, I would love to offer my home (next to OMW) for the visiting sailors and marines.  It would be their

home away from home -- home cooked hot meals, laundry and just chilling out.  

 

I salute you Marine!

[JJReyes]

There is a secret US base in Mindanao with about 2,000 special operations personnel. The claim is Philippine military facility, but all the equipment, portable housing, and even the razor wire comes from the United States. Supposedly the US military personnel are providing training, but you don't need that many.

 

By the way, that is how the Vietnam War got started. From a handful of instructors assisting the South Vietnam army, President Kennedy increased the number to 2,000. The numbers kept increasing and peaked during the President Johnson administration. We tend to forget that the insurgency situation in Mindanao goes all the way back to Magellan. It's the same with Afghanistan. If the Afghan tribes don't have a common enemy like the British, Russians and now Americans, they will be fighting and killing each other.

 

The justification for being in Mindanao is the presence of extremists linked to global terrorist groups. 

Edited August 14, 2013 by JJReyes

[Bruce]

There is a secret US base in Mindanao with about 2,000 special operations personnel. The claim is Philippine military facility, but all the equipment, portable housing, and even the razor wire comes from the United States. Supposedly the US military personnel are providing training, but you don't need that many.

 

By the way, that is how the Vietnam War got started. From a handful of instructors assisting the South Vietnam army, President Kennedy increased the number to 2,000. The numbers kept increasing and peaked during the President Johnson administration. We tend to forget that the insurgency situation in Mindanao goes all the way back to Magellan. It's the same with Afghanistan. If the Afghan tribes don't have a common enemy like the British, Russians and now Americans, they will be fighting and killing each other.

 

The justification for being in Mindanao is the presence of extremists linked to global terrorist groups. 

 

I wonder if that will change now that the government has sold out the Mindanao people by giving away 75% of the mineral rights to the terrorists. 

 

This reminds of an old Star Trek episode in which they visited a planet that was at war with another planet. The war had gone on so long that they now manufactured missiles  that did no damage 'if' it got thru the planet's defenses. If the missile got thru the defenses, it would simply 'mark' an assume blast area and then the people in the area were declared 'dead' and had 24 hours to report to a machine that killed them painlessly. Same set up on both planets. The rest of the story was the starship crew disabled the planet defenses on both planets and that raised the possibility of a real war and that threat then prompted a 'settlement' between the two planets.

 

As how this pertains to Mindanao and the government giving away the mineral rights to 'that group', all the terrorists need to do now is one or twice a year, blow something up and make more demands! If the demands are not met (the remaining 25% to start) then the terrorists will then threaten to blow up the island. The precedent has been set! The government will blink first.  

 

If the US had 2,000 service members on Mindanao and the accompanying support, There MUST be some stupid muzzle on the group. With satellite, infrared, body seeking radar and the rest, IF and I do mean IF there was a real need to end the terrorists efforts, it could be done and done permanently. A huge number of 'that group's' fighters have already left for Sulu and keeping them from coming back really is not that hard with the satellite and fast boats and a Warthog!

 

Unlike Vietnam, there is no 'north' and no Chinese or Russians to interfere. Therefore.... I believe that somehow 'money' is involved in not ending the situation permanently.     

[Americano]

I'm sure 2,000 US marines with all the equipment they need could kill 600 Islamist terrorist in very short order. What is stopping them from killing the terrorists is the question that no one answers.

[JJReyes]

I'm sure 2,000 US marines with all the equipment they need could kill 600 Islamist terrorist in very short order. What is stopping them from killing the terrorists is the question that no one answers.

 

The Americans are after specific groups linked to the global terrorism network. The continued fighting between insurgents and Philippine government soldiers is not their problem. That has more to do with local politics and besides, that fight has been on-going for 400 years.

 

Difficult to locate the enemy even with modern technology since they move about in small units. I would imagine that Afghanistan is more open ground. You could just use drones and kill anyone carrying a rifle. Of course, every adult male in that country carries a rifle for self-protection, so how do you distinguish friend from foe?

 

I recall reading that in Burma (Myanmar) after checking military records later, there were indications that battalion size British & American units were bypassing similar size Japanese army units as close as 500 meters. Even with scouts protecting your flanks, it is very easy to miss each other because of the jungle canopy. Besides, since the Americans are not even suppose to be in Mindanao, you can't publish results. If they catch a big fish, the Philippine army will receive the credit. 

Edited August 14, 2013 by JJReyes

[Bruce]

so how do you distinguish friend from foe?

 

Why even try? Palin was quoted about killing them all and letting Allah sort it out.

 

The continued fighting between insurgents and Philippine government soldiers is not their problem

 

The US forces are a 'guest of the Philippine Government', so I think the government should MAKE it  their problem and tell them, Hey! While you are down there, how about doing us a favor'. :thumbsup:

 

As harsh as it may sound, remove the terrorists and then the 'little' people can continue doing their daily tasks all the way up the social ladder. The entire country benefits from the removal of terrorists so the country can simply function smoother and with less drama.