Mr Lee Posted July 15, 2009 Posted July 15, 2009 Speculation is ripe at this point, but why would the US want to put bases back in the Philippines after all the things of the past? Administration critics suspect that the June 30 meeting in Washington D.C. between the two state leaders will involve an exchange deal: term extension for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the resumption of the operations of the US military bases on Philippine soil for Barack Obama. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/167265/Critics...royo-Obama-meet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmusslewhite Posted July 15, 2009 Posted July 15, 2009 (edited) I hope not. This would require Cha-Cha to scrap the 1987 Constitution and revamp the political system of the Philippines for the wrong reasons. This will not be by a preponderance of popular votes by the Filipino citizenry. Term limits dictate Arroyo step aside and allow the proper electoral system to decide the next President. I know that she stands the chance of charges once she steps down from power, and this may be a way for her to thwart this process. This is a fine line to dictatorship, when a political system is bent by the will of a leader, not by those who elected them. The US needs to stay out of the Philippines and leave the bases on Okinawa. The opponents will use the opportunity to incite the locals. It would incite extremest groups who will step up terrorist activities, it is always the innocent that suffers the most. The US is better effective by supporting the Philippines but keep the troops based elsewhere.The Philippines Government would remain stronger, and the Filipino peoples will remain more independent. The Philippines and the Filipino peoples will have a better chance of having and maintaining a National Identity without this unnecessary outside interference and influence. The Philippines chose to include a non-foreign basses clause enacted to their Constitution. Unless it is a proper national vote of the Filipino peoples to overturn and accept US base agreements, than the Constitution should stand. It should be by popular rule of the people, and not by a handful of self-interest politicians. Edited July 15, 2009 by jamesmusslewhite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Lee Posted July 15, 2009 Author Posted July 15, 2009 I am not so sure that bases in the Philippines would be such a bad idea if say the soldiers were transferred back and forth to another base in another country in the general area and those that commit crimes against the locals that is not related to their service, were made to answer for those crimes. The bases would mean a lot more employment and therefore a better economy for the Philippines and just because there would be bases, would not mean that the Philippines is under any sort of US rule. Maybe even shared bases with other countries might work? Either way the Philippines needs to get a handle on the insurgents and what better way than to improve the economy of the whole country. Also, the US military does not only fight, they also build road and improve infrastructure and provide intelligence services to countries that they are based in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_shor Posted July 15, 2009 Posted July 15, 2009 I do think it should be up to the Philippine people to decide if the US was even interested in building bases there. As for the soverenty issue a lot of anti base people were beating that drum. The US has bases in England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and South Korea to name a few. Have any of these places lost their independance to the US? They also claim the US bases cause women to become prostitutes. The bases have been gone over 15 years do you see any fewer? They thrive on sensationalism and wildly inaccurate claims to drum up support. If the people truly want no US facility then there should be none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support Old55 Posted July 17, 2009 Forum Support Posted July 17, 2009 Is there a compelling reason for the US to have bases in Philippines? It would be in our best interest to NOT have bases there if you ask me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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