Comments on: What is Obama’s Asia policy?

By: Seattle Mariners Hat Wearer

Seattle Mariners Hat Wearer — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:09:10 +0000

As an Australia-based Mariners fan, I found your blog on google and read a few of your other Mariners posts.
I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

By: Patriote femelle

Patriote femelle — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:21:04 +0000

America has small vested in the Philippines, and being American bases it’s interests is vague, almost obsolete and non-existent. The last time I remember America paid attention to this government was during the events following the 9/11. Particularly the sensationalized eradication of Abu-Sayyaf. That was a publicity stunt at their finest and don’t feel I need to say anymore. Anyway, Philippines in the eyes of Uncle Sam has not changed since WWII example. Japan vs. Philippines after the war. South of Philippines island vs. Borneo. American bases in the Philippines in relation to the-off-the radar carefully crafted elimination of Marcos and his regime etc.. Other countries have suffered the same consequences like Argentina, Falklands vs. England. America is a big capitalist and it will protect it’s investment on the back and blood of it’s immigrants and citizens literally speaking. Considering the economy blunder that is going on in America I don’t think Philippines is going to be mentioned during the State of the Union speach or any speach for that matter. Although I’m hoping that America will not judge the female president of the Philippines her inability to run my beloved country based on her height even with a stilleto heels.

By: J

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:18:09 +0000

bencard: Mrs Arroyo invited Mrs Clinton to visit. And she didn’t. Isn’t that a snub?

GabbyD: a visit is a subtle gesture indicating the extent of the visitor’s regard for its alliance with the visited country.

By: GabbyD

GabbyD — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:53:35 +0000

i have a question:

why is a visit important?

By: jcc

jcc — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:22:39 +0000

snub? never said that i was certain about it bencard that’s why i put in in quotation mark.

if you ask me, it was not a “snub”, it was pragmatic politics.

By: Bencard

Bencard — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:24:08 +0000

et tu, jcc? how can you say that clinton’s non-visit was a “snub” with an air of certainty? you are supposed to be a guy trained in the law but you seem to think (at least in this instance) like a layman (no offense meant to non-lawyers here). is the word “alleged” not in your legal vocabulary?

and where did you get the idea that a visit or non-visit necessarily depends on whether or not we are needed – or liked?

By: jcc

jcc — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:45:56 +0000

i don’t know j. i get the idea that the snub of RP was due to “corruption and human rights violation” of GMA, and you connected the dot by pointing out that Indonesia would not be a likely U.S. key ally in the region for the same reason,

then you are suggesting that may be U.S. does not need us anymore. you covered a lot of grounds in your post that there was no central theme anymore, and honestly and frankly, I was lost. :)

By: J

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:34:30 +0000

jcc: exactly what this post suggest

By: jcc

jcc — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:31:18 +0000

U.S. does not need us anymore and we should get the message. We should strive for more self-reliance or develop other key allies.

By: J

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:23:30 +0000

by strategic outpost i mean not necessarily strategic military basing areas per se, but source of political support for the US