Nothing to celebrate, no real friendship in master-puppet relations, critics say
The partnership between US warship builder and developer AMSEC Huntington Ingalls Industries and Hanjin Heavy Industries practically transforms the Hanjin shipyard in Subic Bay into a US military base. – Gabriela Rep Luzviminda Ilagan
Sidebar: Groups disprove Aquino’s selling points in allowing greater US military presence
By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – The Philippines observed today the US-Philippine Friendship Day with patriotic groups saying there is no reason to celebrate. The “celebration” only marks the ceremony conducted sixty-six years before in this country when the American colonial government turned over the reins of government to its decades-long trained Filipino administrators.The Americans had first launched a bloody war of conquest followed by years of brutal and deceptive “pacification” that historians said included training local elites for semi-colonial governance.
Today, not much has changed with regard to the US-trained Filipino government. From statements of various patriotic and progressive organizations, the current government led by President Benigno “Noynoy” AquinoIII is as Amboy (American boy) to the hilt as you can get, an out and out “US stooge” based on its numerous new agreements with the US government and military.
It does not help Aquino’s image that since last Sunday more US troops have arrived for “exercises” in Philippine territory. Since Monday this week, the Aquino government is playing host to a nine-day American naval exercise in the Mindanao Sea, off the coasts of General Santos City and nearby Sarangani province. Dubbed as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2012, codenamed “CARAT 2012,” it is being conducted in areas of responsibility of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao.
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| Commanding Officer CDR Brandon Bryan followed by Commodore Dave Welch and US Navy other officers disembark from USS Vandegrift during their arrival at Makar wharf Sunday, July 1, Gen. Santos City. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion / SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) |
After forging an agreement early last month with the chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, the Aquino government came up with a list of seaports, airports, military camps and other facilities, which it is opening up to US troops. It eventually also granted the US military “unprecedented access” and “unrestricted prerogative” to make use of naval and airport facilities in former military bases in Clark and Subic, even without an appropriate treaty.
This week, Aquino infuriated patriotic groups with his request to US for deployment of spy drones over the South China Sea.
Such “open invitation for US intervention is an act of outright treachery,” the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said in a statement. It added that in doing so, Aquino “is providing the US military the justification and legal cover to carry out military intervention in the Philippines and in the South China Sea.”.... MORE
Source: Bulatlat.com
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/07/04/nothing-to-celebrate-no-real-friendship-in-master-puppet-relations-critics-say/
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