Twenty-two years after the Philippine Senate kicked the US military out of the archipelago, the notion of being friends and allies holds new currency:
Two decades after evicting U.S. forces from their biggest base in the Pacific, the Philippines is in talks with the Obama administration about expanding the American military presence in the island nation, the latest in a series of strategic moves aimed at China.
Although negotiations are in the early stages, officials from both governments said they are favorably inclined toward a deal. They are scheduled to intensify the discussions Thursday and Friday in Washington before higher-level meetings in March. If an arrangement is reached, it would follow other recent agreements to base thousands of U.S. Marines in northern Australia and to station Navy warships in Singapore.
Among the options under consideration are operating Navy ships from the Philippines, deploying troops on a rotational basis and staging more frequent joint exercises. Under each scenario, U.S. forces would effectively be guests at existing foreign bases.
The sudden rush by many in the Asia-Pacific region to embrace Washington is a direct reaction to China’s rise as a military power and its assertiveness in staking claims to disputed territories, such as the energy-rich South China Sea.
The last time the PI had the opportunity to be a part of a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, they didn’t like it all that much. Something it would have been friendly to remember back in 1991, when history ended.
I used to think that you never really knew a man, until you’d crossed the Magsaysay Bridge with him at two o’clock in the morning. Seems like the next generation may get that chance.
Often overlooked or forgotten regarding our relationship with the Philippines was the Philippine-American War (1899-1902), also know as the Philippine War of Independence. In it, 4,234 US troops died along with 20,000 Philippine troops and 200,000 civilians!
A result of the Spanish-American War, the US “acquired” the Philippines. But the Philippine people, tired of being a colony of Spain revolted at now becoming a colony of the US. While A. T. Mahan and others correctly pointed out the strategic future value of the islands, this counter-revolution war by the US deeply divided our country. It was our first venture into being a colonial power, something we detested the old countries of Europe for.
Although their revolution failed, the Philippines were finally granted their independence inn 1947, after they fought bravely and valiantly with us against Japan.
LINK
Binictican, come in pleeeeeeeeeze!
Quarters
Yes, a war devoutly opposed by the inestimable Thomas B. Reed, of Maine. A great man.
Casey – Republican Speaker of the House Reed was a great and powerful man at the turn of the century. I believe he resigned because of the Philippine war, didn’t he?
Yeppers. He opposed an imperialistic war, and I agree with him. For all of Mahan’s reasoning, acquisition of the Philippines went against every republican (contra Republican) ethic.
Irony upon irony, we went to war to protect China against Japanese aggression, and now we ally ourselves with Japan (and Korea, the Philippines, and others) against potential Chinese aggression…
Would it be, perhaps, the penultimate irony that amongst all of these conflicts the United States ultimately supported the concept of liberty and self-determination?…
Mark Twain was agin’ it, too, as was Andrew Carnegie. They knew about those Effing Pwogs!
That’s the problem with Teddy Roosevelt; he was braver than Dick Tracy, smarter than most people, knew lots of erudite stuff, but he was still a damn Pwog, inclined to mind other people’s business. His many virtues made it hard to oppose his big flaw.
Also, he ran against Taft and thereby ensured the election of (Shudder!) Wilson, who was even worse than Teddy. Sort of a prequel to the Perot campaign, that was.
The ROK have built a big shipyard in Subic Bay. The locals are missing the Americans as they pay better and provide a better working environment. Also, IMHO, the push against the US being there is the social “elite” in Manila. They were protesting up there, the presence of SF/SEALs down south, while those having to deal w/ the possibility of decapitation were happy the US threw in some men to stabilize the region. The old base needs some work, the old power boxes have all been stripped of their copper, but still it is a good port.
So how much are we going to bill these folks for the services we are providing?
Going back to the earlier story, it seems the good idea fairy made a late call. Usually when he/she comes later than the GICOT, the fairyt is also, shall we say, not at peak mental capacity. Give the good idea fairy’s normal mental capacity, it’s best to avoid him/her at any time of day.
Brings back many happy memories of frantic cab rides from Cubi Pt.to “main gate”, and across the $hit river into Olongapo for a few dozen San Magoos.
Loves me some San Magoo! I spent a few pesos on the further banks of said river back in the day.
I had occasion to fly the bank manager at Sangley over to Cubi for a meeting. They were preparing for the shutdown of the bank at Sangley upon base closure and were worried about security. Sure enuf, just a few weeks before we pulled out a crew hit the bank, killed a Marine guard posted at the entrance, and made off with a lot of cash. Rumor was that the leader of the crew was the Mayor’s nephew.
It made no sense to me when we left there. I wonder how long before Viet Nam is asking us back to Cam Ranh Bay, for similar reasons?
Come it will…
They want help securing the offshore oilfields from the Chinese.
Money always makes strange bedfellows!
Peelings. . .
Deja vu all over again.
“Peelings.” Heh. I saw what you did there!
That reminds me of a story. It seems an old retired Machinist’s Mate was re-visiting the scenes of his youth in that archipelago, and a “young lady” was asking him why he had an “electric pan” tattooed on each of his butt cheeks.
Nobody remembers steam, it do seem.
Lex,
I doubt the new Navy will allow more than Cinderella libs in Subic. And that’s probably only for chiefs and officers.
The Real Navy allows for that and more. I speak from experience. As for the Surface force, well, that’s another question altogether.
From the general tone of things here today Dirt Sailor, sounds like we need to get you out on Magsaysay, get a few San Magoos and some monkey on a stick in you and see if you can lighten up.
…and by real Navy I reckon you must be talking about us Airedales. Thanks for that. Putting warheads on foreheads.
… if that doesn’t work the Mojo will start to flow.
Oh, Airedales count. So do Seabees, EOD, Beach Group types, and everyone who isn’t a Blackshoe.
I just have a bad taste for Surface Warriors.
Binictican come een. Squelch. Go ahead wun two four! Not sure I ever heard that cabbie chatter sober.
FOF at 0600. Elevated nose taxi down the taxiway to the helo ramp. Shut em down. Det OiC checks in with COMFAIRWESTPAC det. Det MO gets the hooch. Troops do DTA’s. O’s go get wheels and rooms for all at BOQ/Barracks and make a beer run. 6 to a room in BOQ, especially if the Midway wives were in town. Meet back at the hooch to share a couple of cases of San Miguel. Watch the poor ship’s guys float by about 0900. If they were lucky, if not, they were out at the NAVMAG with the meanest monkeys on the planet and no cab service. Secure and off to bowl, swim, drink, Cubi dogs, best haircuts ever, steam and cream, boots shined. Early dinner and then cab to Subic, cross the bridge and out on the Ville. Money exchange for pesos (our E’s always knew where the best rate was). Stop by the Rufadora (helo bar) and drink with the other dets. Sit up on the balcony at the American Legion and watch the world go nuts underneath you. New guys to Jolo’s for initial quals. Old West #2 where the 120 pound Filipino singer sounds just like Willie Nelson. Don’t tell me its all coming back. I will just have to get younger… somehow.
“Rollin…. Rollin….. Rollin on the Reever…” Phonetically, they knew every word. My end of the world started with the ramp at Clark AFB, but the song, beer, knickknacks, and the etc. were the same.
In our present circumstances, we need to tell our “friends” that we will consider their requests, but ONLY if they agree to pick up ALL the costs of establishing and maintaining any bases we use. We already paid enough in the past, and we are broke now. If you want OUR ships and crews to protect YOUR nation, then YOU need to bear your “fair share” of the costs of doing so.
Don’t want to do it that way, then we will not be able to cover your butts. Call back when you can afford what our protections costs, or do without.
Tell ‘em to protect themselves. They kicked us out, almost gleefully. And now big, bad China is eyeing them greedily, and suddenly, they’re interested in “mutual cooperation” with us? Sorry, I’m less forgiving than that. We’d better get something out of the deal besides nice words.
It’s out duty to protect the weak. Taiwan, South Korea, Japan also got a free ride during and after the Cold War. That’s what makes us American and not Communist Chinese. China (like Imperial Japan) just sees resources. To the PLA it’s about making the various countries knuckle under. Have to feed those Laogai factories somehow. Being good sucks. We get to pay in blood an treasure only to get grief for it. But we’re willing to come to a friend in need.
Overheard decades ago to a shipmate in Olongapo, “How can you speak of love and have no pesos?”
I love you no $hit, buy me three speed fan.
[...] sailors may get to cross the Magsaysay bridge and the @#$& River (literally) and storm Olongapo as in days of old again. Maybe even old Clark Field will be open for US business again (though I doubt it) - it’s [...]