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Month: September 2006

Iraq and Philippines compared

Published by Ellen on September 7, 2006

(This article, by Jon Wiener, appeared in the Aug. 30, 2006 issue of the Los Angeles Times)

DOES HISTORY provide any models suggesting that the unhappy war in Iraq might have a happy ending? Journalists and military experts are pointing hopefully to the U.S. war in the Philippines at the turn of the 20th century as an example of how Americans can fight a tough guerrilla insurgency and eventually win.

Max Boot, an Op-Ed columnist for the Los Angeles Times, has written that the U.S. victory in the Philippines provides a “useful reminder” that Americans can prevail in Iraq. Similar arguments have been made by Robert Kaplan in the Atlantic Monthly and by the neoconservative American Enterprise Institute.

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Defensive si Defensor

Published by Ellen on September 6, 2006

Halatang nayanig si Mike Defensor sa exposé ni Sen. Aquilino Pimentel tungkol sa kanyang ginawang pakiki-alam laban sa kaso ng mga Filipino nurses sa New York at kampi sa Amerikano na hindi tumupad sa kontrata.

Ang reaksyon niya ay kailangan raw mag”sorry” sa kanya si Pimentel.

Nahihibang na itong si Defensor. Gayang-gaya siya sa kanyang dalawang amo, si Gloria at Mike Arroyo, na humihingi ng “sorry” kay Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

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Who said it was in the Arroyos’ name?

Published by Ellen on September 5, 2006

I have not cheated anyone of his vote, I have not diverted a single centavo of money of the people to my pockets, and I drive myself to the limits of my strength working to earn an honest living.

Like many honest, trustworthy and hardworking Filipinos, I admire Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano for exposing bank account No. 87570-23030-32100-6271-571 in Hypo-und Vereinsbank in Munich, Germany which international investigating agencies have been keeping an eye on since 2002.

The huge sums going to this account has been credited to a person who is said to be part of the government armed agency and is known to be close to a person belonging to the most powerful family in the country today.

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Ang kapangyarihan ni Arroyo

Published by Ellen on September 4, 2006

Malaking kahihiyan dapat para kay Gloria Arroyo ang mapasama sa listahan ng most powerful o pinakamakapangyarihan samantalang ang milyung-milyong Pilipino ay powerless sa kanilang kahirapan.

Para bang isang taong nagpatayo ng palasyo sa gitna ng squatter area.

Malaki sa dinadanas na kahirapan ng mga Filipino ngayon ay dahil na rin kay Arroyo na ginagamit ang kapangyarihan sa pansariling interes sa halip na sa kapakanan ng taumbayan.

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It’s Defensor, says Pimentel

Published by Ellen on September 4, 2006

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel named Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor as the cabinet official who intervened in behalf of Sentosa Recruitment Agency, being accused by a group of Filipino nurses in the United States of reneging on the terms of their contract.

One of the nurses who was victimized is Elmer Jacinto, the topnotcher in the 2004 board examination for doctors.

Pimentel identified Defensor in a privilege speech delivered today. (Click here for Pimentel’s privilege speech)

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Goodbye, “Crocodile Hunter”

Published by Ellen on September 4, 2006

I feel sad that one of my favorite TV personalities, Steve Irwin, died today. He is such an affable character. I love his enthusiasm for life and his deep regard for the environment.

Here’s the Associated Press story at MSN:

CAIRNS, Australia – Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and environmentalist known as the “Crocodile Hunter,” was killed Monday by a stingray while filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.

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