Update: Rape victim Nicole in US “for good”, terminates services of lawyer.
It is no idle coincidence that the arrest of family members of disgraced Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia , former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines happened at the time when calls for the abrogation of Visiting Forces Agreement is mounting.
They are part of a high-stakes power play that sadly reduces the Filipino people as pawns. For the United States, at stake is their being able to maintain their diminishing dominance in Asia Pacific amid China’s growing global influence. For Gloria Arroyo, it’s political survival.
Fourteen months away from the end of her corruption-riddled presidency, Gloria Arroyo has been begging for a photo-opportunity with the new U.S president thinking that the picture would negate the creeping impression that the Americans have written her off especially after the World Bank released the report that her husband Mike Arroyo is involved in corruption in public works projects.
Arroyo didn’t get her “photo op” but got the next best thing: a call from US President Barack Obama last Saturday. It doesn’t matter that she was not the only one that Obama called that day. Report from Washington said Obama also called up the leaders of Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Argentina.
An ecstatic Press Secretary Serge Remonde announced that Obama and Arroyo talked about the Visiting Forces Agreement “which remains critical to the bilateral relationship and our strategic interests,”
Some senators and left-leaning groups want the VFA, which governs the status of visiting US military personnel, reviewed following the refusal of the United States to turn over to Philippine authorities US Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, who was convicted for raping a Filipina while in the Subic Bay for a joint military exercise in 2006.
Although the Supreme Court last month re-affirmed Philippine jurisdiction over US personnel who have violated Philippine laws, the Arroyo government has not demanded the handing over of Smith, who remains at the US Embassy compound.
Senators Francis Pangilinan, Mar Roxas and Francis Escudero called for the scrapping of the VFA with the United States saying the the government has failed to implement it for the benefit of the Filipino people.
The left-leaning Bagong Alyansang Makabayan is organizing protest actions against the VFA which was forged during the Ramos administration but was ratified only in 1999 during the Estrada administration.
Although it is unlikely that anti-VFA sentiments would snowball in the Senate, which has the power to ratify treaties entered into by the President, the U.S cannot take it for granted having learned their lesson from the 1991 junking by the Senate of the RP-US Military Bases Agreement.
At this time when China is upgrading its military capability to match its enormous economic power, the US is seen as protecting its access to Asia Pacific as demonstrated by its submarine-hunting activities in South China Sea last week which riled the Chinese.
Diplomatic sources say the US is concerned with Arroyo’s agreement with China allowing the latter to undertake seismic study on areas the Philippines claim in the disputed Spratlys islands in South China Sea.
Arroyo and her husband Mike have been embroiled in several anomalous deals involving Chinese firms.
If Arroyo takes comfort on the generous friendship of China, the arrest of the wife of Gen. Garcia, Clarita, and their three sons the past weeks, should remind her that American authorities hold a lot of incriminating evidence not only against her and her husband but also against military officials to whom she owes her unelected presidency.
Garcia has been in detention in Camp Crame while facing charges of plunder after his sons and wife were caught smuggling $100,000 in cash to the U.S in 2003. The incident led to expose of more wealth by the Garcias in the U.S and in the Philippines.
It is widely believed that Garcia, who was AFP comptroller since 2001, could not have amassed those ill-gotten wealth without the cooperation of other ranking military officials. It is talked about that Garcia gave a substantial amount of “contribution” to a trusted member of the Arroyo cabinet.
It is important that the US holds something on Arroyo because they know that her commitment has no value as what happened in July 2004 when a few days after she assured then US State Secretary Collin Powell of support to the American war in Iraq, she withdrew Philippine troops from Baghdad in return for the release of abducted Filipino truckdriver Angelo de la Cruz.
On the other hand, Arroyo cannot feel secure about the Americans. It was the popular Estrada who obtained Senate ratification of the VFA. But despite the Americans’ much- avowed adherence to constitutional process, when Estrada lost control of his government, they recognized Arroyo’s power grab in January 2001.
What happened can happen again.
The current power play reduces the Filipinos as pawns. Yes indeed. The recent dispatch of a modern Chinese warship to the Spratleys and the confrontation between the US and Chinese vessels indicate the volatile situation in that area. The Philippines is caught in between the two giants…all because of the Evil Bitch’s mishandling of the government and foreign policies.
The problem with a fake President is that she cannot speak for the whole nation. She could only speak for herself and her own survival. This weakness is what the US is trying to take advantage of. Yes, I agree that we have been reduced as pawns in this dirty powerplay. However, we cannot blame the US for advancing the interest of its country and its own people. What is pathetic and disgusting is that Gloria is advancing her own interest and that of her family at our own expense.
The US plays a game with Gloria but we are being played as fools by Gloria. Which one, do you think, is more revolting?
The case of Gen. Garcia and his family is not a simple case of violations of US Central Bank currency regulations. They probably have been monitoring the financial activities of the family, possibly for money laundering, BEFORE the Feds arrested them red handed. If there is a paper trail of the millions of dollars, it would have stopped at the doorsteps of the Palace. I will wait for US DoF to confirm my hunch.
But my crystal ball has always been proven right.
In Eric Berne’s Games People Play, the end result may be deadly. Same with the game the US is playing with Gloria, the end result may be deadly for us. The Philippines is now in the center of a controversy the involves two giants or titans – the US and China. We are the ant that could be trampled on. For sure the US would not give up its interest in the South China Sea (SCS). It has said that the SCS is international waters and this waters is rich in energy resources which the US and China sorely needs for its growing industries and survival. And we the Philippines is stuck right in the middle of all of these. How we as a country play the game will spell our own survival and economic welfare. Definitely, we have to assert our claim to the Spratly Islands no matter what. But we should avoid being used as a pawn in the conflict between the US and China.
Gloria and Mike Arroyo are in deep shit with the case of Garcia. Remember that Garcia’s money came from bribes by defense contractors. The money used to procure defense equipment and other services are most probably Balikatan money provided by the US, aside from other funds undeer the MDT. These funds are Federal money. Garcia, without the blessings of Arroyo, could not have skimmed from these funds. Garcia should be asked if some of these money were used in the 2004 elections. I think the US knows about this. Gloria, after her stolen presidency, has nowhere to hide. Add to that Esperon et.al. This is the single most motivating factor that Arroyo and her criminal gang wants to stay in power. They have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.
A pawn as a metaphor from chess limits the debasement level and odium of the subject. In this context, the Philippines is a pipsqueak in geopolitics, the game of giants. The two incidents, one where Chinese ships surrounded and harassed a Navy mapping ship (USNS Impeccable) in international waters off China, and the other, China’s dispatch of a warship to the Spratlys, is defined as gunboat diplomacy, a fundamental feature in International Law. A corollary principle is the territorial limit of three miles, now modernized to twelve miles, based on the reach of cannonballs, relative to a nation’s defense capability and the offending gunboats cannon range (16 miles in WWII warships). Such skirmishes are standard features of geopolitics, but sometimes heat up into high intensity conflict, an act AdB dismisses as the height of stupidity. Pipsqueaks playing the game requires a leader that does not flaunt her fake credentials in economy, but instead an adroit slyness in playing one giant against the other. The UN Security Council is still groping for a definition of territorial limits beyond UNCLOS considering the reach of ICBMs and the insanity of nukes.
Putting Daniel Smith in Philippine prison? I don’t think so!It’s not easy for Philippine Government to get custody.US has secured legal agreements that remove obstacles to their deployment and expand their roles in the country.
As the US has made clear, these kinds of legal arrangements are considered part of the US global posture because without the assurances and protections they give, the US is constrained from deploying to or stationing forces in a country. In 1998, after long negotiations and heated public debates, the US and Philippine governments signed a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), paving the way for the resumption of US military deployments to the country after being largely suspended since the closure of US bases in 1992. Contrary to most accounts, the VFA does not just cover US troops participating in temporary joint military exercises but all US military and civilian personnel who enter the country, regardless of their purpose or mission, so long as they come with the approval of the Philippine government. Apart from personnel, the VFA also governs the entry of US military aircraft, vessel, and vehicles.
VFA, like other “status-of-forces” agreements (SOFAs) that the US has with other governments around the world, seek, to the extent possible, to apply US jurisdiction to its troops and civilian employees even when they are in other countries. In other words, they seek to exempt US personnel from being covered by the laws of the countries where they are stationed in or deployed to. SOFAs seek to implement the concept of the “Law of the Flag” or the idea that a country deploying military forces abroad should apply its own laws to its soldiers – and not that of the country where they are to be deployed.
In the case of Daniel Smith Indeed, was seen as the first real test of the VFA, he was taken under US government custody during the entire duration of the trial. When he was eventually convicted,he was first imprisoned in a Philippine jail upon a Filipino judge’s order but was subsequently released and transferred by the Philippine governments to US custody in the US embassy.
The Philippine government agreed to share concurrent jurisdiction with the US over offenses covered by both Philippine and US laws. The Philippines can have exclusive jurisdiction over US personnel only when they are charged with offenses that are exclusively punishable under Philippine laws but not under US laws. For offenses punishable under US laws but not Philippine laws, the Philippines agreed to hand over exclusive jurisdiction to the US. But even in cases where both the US and the Philippines have concurrent jurisdiction, the agreement stipulates that the Philippines will have to waive its right to exercise jurisdiction when requested by the US.
Moreover, even if jurisdiction were concurrent, the US’ right to exercise jurisdiction prevails over that of the Philippines whenever the US decides that the offense was committed “in performance of official duty.In other words, the agreement can be construed as giving the US the final say as to what cases and in what conditions the Philippines can apply its laws to US personnel in the country. Regardless of who exercises jurisdiction, the agreement states that it is the US – and not the Philippines – which will have custody over the concerned party.
While the Philippines is playing footsies with China, high time to take balances. China , no doubt, has all the aces for the affection of every Filipino from top to bottom. U.S. is on its last carrot. There is the imminent divorce. Magsauli-an na ng candila.
neonate,
What about the reach of golf balls?
Although the US-China relationship still hasn’t reached breaking point, both sides are pushing in that direction. China has to decide how far it really wants to push this stand-off with the US, while the US must decide whether it can afford a conflict with China at a time when it is involved in a global war on terror. It is precisely the restrictions on the US resulting from the war on terror in combination with the weak-willed Taiwanese people that may cause China to think it has an opportunity. This is the root cause of any future misjudgments and what makes the East Asian geo-political situation exceptionally dangerous.Conflict could come through a blast of cultural backlash when the “right spark” ignites the equivalent of oil on water mixture.
Valdemar, golfballs and the game of golf is not my cup of tea. But goofballs never fail to arouse my attention, and there are goofballs aplenty in Ate Glue’s team.
The absolute horror of a conflict with China is almost unimaginable to most Americans, because they cannot grasp the astounding scale of it all.This is because China has a mind-boggling ace in the hole, an incredible number of people. Theoretically, China could field an ill equipped army of 300 Million men. And if the battle remains a conventional one, how do you fight that?
Few know that America almost lost the Korean War by being overwhelmed with sheer numbers of Chinese enemy. We were spared this ignominious defeat only because their side was smitten with hemorrhagic smallpox, that killed and disabled vast numbers of their soldiers. Otherwise, we would have lost, despite American far superior technology.
MacArthur faced the yellow horde across the Yalu River, but even he assumed that the Chinese would not be willing to suffer mass casualties. But when the Chinese were marshaling to attack, he quickly realized that unless he used nuclear weapons, his forces were in grave danger. But he was prohibited from doing so.
Today, America’s first assumption about a US-China war is that it would be a naval war. And beyond that, an air war. But in practical terms, there is a strong possibility that eventually the US would face a need for a ground invasion.
Granted, our weapons today are amazingly lethal. But how do you demand of a US army Captain that he personally order the death of a million enemy? And that all of his peers do the same?
Do we have enough explosive in our entire conventional inventory to do that? To kill vast numbers of half starved men, most of who only have a rifle and a few bullets, if that, and only eat a small ball of rice every few days?
But unless you do, it has long been a Chinese military principle that vast numbers of common rats can overwhelm a mighty dragon, if they attack as one.
Few Americans have heard of the Taiping Rebellion, a Chinese civil war, perhaps the second bloodiest conflict in human history after World War II. It was recorded that after some of the battles of that war, a five square mile area was so littered with bodies that no place within could a person step on the ground. Both sides were willing to commit vast numbers of people to face certain death.
The one saving grace that may prevent our ever having to fight China is India. If those two nations fight each other first, there will be astounding carnage, but it might save America from having to experience the horror.
On one hand, China is in Asia and Asians are for Asia. No other nation should interfere or be in an area thousands of miles away from its home. It’s my position that US and China won’t be at war directly…not yet. Unfortunately, small nations like RP would as usual be used as pawns as proven by history.
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez has called for a cabinet meeting to deal with this Spratley crisis minus Deputy Security Adviser Chavit Singson who’s currently in the US watching Pacman trains. Gonzalez wants to decide if RP should
act by driving that Chinese modern naval patrol away from the area.
Pawn is an overstatement.
We are still an uncarved piece of twig.
Can future nuclear war be prevented?
Most Sensitive US Naval Systems Compromised
Japanese Official: US Would “Certainly Lose” War vs. China
http://www.asiaamerica.org/publications/cif/cif-08-2005.htm
Flashpoint – It used to be North Korea as flashpoint of conflict in these part of the world. Now its becoming the South China Seas and claims to the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG). And all because of vast potential mineral and energy resources. China would not allow the US or any other country with a naval force to patrol much less exploit the international waters of the South China Sea for as long as China wants to get the KIG for its own. Though the KIG is way way far off China, because of China’s greed and hegemonic ambitions it will block, stop, harass threaten, sanction, and even go to war to satisfy its greed. The Philippine government is very weak in terms of its foreign policy agenda. Its diplomatic arm headed by no other than DFA Sec. Romulo is deeply silent. The government and the DFA has not enunciated any coherent foreign policy agenda or direction relative to the KIG issue. Even our National Security Council where the notorious Singson is the deputy has not made any clear policy direction. This only means one thing – there is no foreign or national security direction of policy. What we have is a “play by ear” policy. We only react and react when its too late.
Re: “his is because China has a mind-boggling ace in the hole, an incredible number of people. Theoretically, China could field an ill equipped army of 300 Million men. And if the battle remains a conventional one, how do you fight that?”
Funny — I was just posting about that in the previous thread in reply to BE’s question…
bitchevil asked:
On a conventional war (not nuke), who do you think would win between the US and China?
My thoughts off the cuff:
Depends on where the war takes place… if it took place in Asia, China would win — they could immediately call on several million conscripts without batting an eyelash.
As things stand today, America may have a ‘professional’ 1,000,000 man/woman armed forces but they are stretched thin. Their 170,000 troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined are already causing them huge problems in both manpower and materiel. America would be hard put to win a conventional warfare v China if it happened today.
Even if, for the sake of argument NATO allies came to the aid of America (and this – NATO allies coming to the aid of America – could only happen if America were attacked by China under the NATO doctrine “an attack on one is an attack on all”), a conventional warfare v China in Asia would be a losing proposition.
Unfortunately, America’s official strategy for the last two decades has been focused on their 2-war readiness/preparedness! They are now re-thinking that official strategy, and rightly so!
Right now, with the two wars, Iraq and Afghanistan, America will find it difficult to carry on a similar operation elsewhere, eg., if they have to face a hostile front (3rd front) say from Russia, China, Iran, N Korea, etc. America will find itself in deep shit.
Re: “Japanese Official: US Would “Certainly Lose” War vs. China”
I beg to differ with that official. America has arsenals of new war technology and are continuously researching, re-inventing, deploying, re-deploying, testing, and re-testing, warfare paraphernalia, etc., etc. that it would take time, lots of time for even the most avid and clever copycat Chinese to catch up and produce a semblance of the said technology.
If it came to the crunch, America and its allies have the upperhand in terms of the latest and futuristic warfare technology. America also, if required, already possesses factories and can convert any of its manufacturing plants to churn up war equipment. China may have ready troops but America has the upperhand in terms of warfare technology.
Rep. Roilo Golez on China sending a patrol ship threatening our Spratlys claims:
I
But the Japanese official is right: America should have the Japanese on side. (Today, I would trust the Japanese but have not an iota of trust in the Chinese!)
Pray if ever a war does come it won’t be fought on Philippine soil. The fear is if ever China and the US goes to war they won’t fight it in their grounds. They’d rather fight war on others’ ground and that means us the Philippines. Like what happened in Korea and Vietnam. Our country will be the battle ground. The object of their desire is right here near us, the Spratly Is. and the South China Sea. But again, war would only come after all diplomacy fails. Unless the US President is a warmongering one.
Ellen,
Roy Golez is right to be concerned — but America is right to order the deployment of a US warship to secure the unarmed US vessel. Those waters are still legally international waters so China should toe the line (by the way, “to toe the line” is an old and pure English naval expression)… let the Chinese froth at the mouth.
The Chinese are fully aware that America is in some kind of trouble today in terms of military operations and they are testing the waters (pun intended) but there’s nothing we can do about it. Let them play their game! America cannot not do what it’s doing right now; America has the right to make sure they can adequately secure the blasted Malacca strait for its fleet to get to the Gulf without much trouble; the frigging area is infested with blooding Chinky submarines that’s why the Chinks are oversensitive.
(But at the same time we cannot blame the Chinese for being too sensitive — what if they did the same thing in the Gulf of Mexico!!!Hahahah!)
Anyway, if you come down hard, that stupid old hag in Malacanang is partly to be blamed — if she had been a bit less giddy, she would have stood her ground and discussed mano a mano with the Chinese on the disputed claimes instead of accepting the frigging ZTN bribes – pero kasi talagang mga PI itong mag-asawang baboy ganid na yan, ayan, they gave the Chinese technical ammunition to say they own the entire China sea!
(Imagine, pati ang mga fellow ASEAN trinaydor ng hayop na animal na yan!)
Ellen,
Remind Roy Golez that the USNS Impeccable skipped already reacted with “enough” force when he ordered the hosing of the Chinese vessels but the Chinese did not retaliate in kind. So, that says a little about the Chinese — nanunukso lang, kaya huwag muna siyang masyadong nerbyosin.
Anyway, the Chinese had better be clever about this — as we speak, I have no doubt that the US Navy has already already deployed USNBSMSubs in the area and no matter what the Chinese say, they will not be able to detect her/them. Heh!
(I love these “wargames!”)
There will always be dispute on international water. Take the Artic in Northern Canada for example…Canada is also complaining that Russia and under countries are trespassing her territory but these countries claim they’re on international water.
Pareng Coy 7:41am – if China attacks the US (for argument’s sake), the chinese might as well kiss the trilliones debts bye-bye! China will not think twice but a million times over in instigating a war with the US. America is a superpower sorrounded by it’s die-hard allies in Australia, Canada, the UK, and Israel. It’s inconceivable any of these countries to breakaway with the Americans.
To end the conflict and war today and in the future, we need to have an infinite supply of oil and energy. Too bad that is not the case. let’s see how the real giant US and the wannabe Giant china arrive at their destination.
Which country has established allies and friends?
Which country owes money and who has the advantage to say, I will not pay?
Which country is experience in war?
Which country do not rely on troops but satellite?
Who can see the world from Mars?
common folks… which country do not have anything? 🙂
this war issues are the expertise of Estrada and lito lapid from their past movie experiences 🙂 i wonder what they are thinking?
Heh,heh,heh…akala ni Bitch eh she can play the US and China at the same time to get more concessions. Yan tuloy she is holding the shorter end of the stick. The US holds the Garcias. Mrs Garcia allegedly confessed that the money they were carrying into the US were bribe and dirty money. With china, she and her hoodlum hubby were caught golfing for big bucks! China even gave the bitch a 2 billion a year line of credit! The US and China are like suitors and for a “talandi” like the bitch, moolah is always welcomed with open arms!
Now, the bitch is cornered. Let us see how she can get herself out of the mess. She has to keep playing the two giants until 2010. Mapapagod siya! heh,heh,heh…
The US will avoid war with China to protect its business interest. And before it does think about war, it will have to weigh in its dominance of the South China Sea, its interest in oil and gas exploration and its neoliberal policies in the Asia Pacific region. Below are several common perceptions about US companies operating in China:
1- 81% of companies said that their China operations are profitable.
2- Most are wholly foreign- owned enterprises, not joint ventures with Chinese partners.
3- Primarily serve the Chinese domestic market, not export back to the US. 57% of the respondents said that their main investment objective was to access the China market. Only 18% invest in China as an export platform to the US market. The remainder export to other countries.
Can future nuclear war be prevented?
Most Sensitive US Naval Systems Compromised
Japanese Official: US Would “Certainly Lose” War vs. China–etcetera.
http://www.asiaamerica.org/publications/cif/cif-08-2005.htm
==================================================
Let’s ask Yuko’s opinion about this.If you just read by score card from the other thread between China and US maybe,I can convince you that US still remain the strong super power.US is a brilliant warrior. US has been attempting to re-establish its military presence in the Philippines in the period beginning in 2001. Diverging from the common explanation attributing increased US military presence in the country to the so-called “global war on terror,” US actions in the Philippines in the larger context of the US’ objectives and strategy.Because US know beforehand that the REDS are coming to establish military dominance is the Pacific.
The self-avowed aim of the US is to perpetuate its position of being the world’s sole superpower in order to re-order the world. Its strategy to perpetuate its status is to prevent the rise of the enemy. To do this, it is seeking the capacity to deter and defeat potential enemies anywhere in the world by retaining and realigning its “global posture” or its ability to operate across the globe through its worldwide network of forward-deployed troops, bases, and access agreements. Today, the US believes that, of all its potential rivals, China poses the greatest threat and must therefore be contained before it becomes even more powerful. To persuade China that it is better to submit to a US-dominated world order, the US is attempting to convince it that the alternative will be worse; that defeat will be inevitable. To make this threat credible, the US is attempting to enlist countries around China to take its side and to encircle China with bases and troops. Because of its strategic location, the Philippines is among the countries in which the US wants to establish bases, secure access agreements, and station troops. But apart from the Philippines, the US also wants the same in other countries in the region. The problem is, these other countries on whom it is relying for support do not want to go against China and are not necessarily willing to give the US what it needs, thereby posing problems for US strategy. Thus, because of its favorable disposition towards the US compared to other countries, the Philippines becomes even more critical to US military strategy in the region and in the world.
Lines of navigation from our ports to the Orient and Australia; from the Isthmian Canal to Asia; from all Oriental ports to Australia, converge at and separate from the Philippines. They are a self-supporting, dividend-paying fleet, permanently anchored at a spot selected by the strategy of Providence commanding the Pacific. And the Pacific is the ocean of commerce of the future. Most future wars will be conflicts for commerce. The power that rules the Pacific, therefore, is the power that rules the world. And, with the Philippines, that power is and will forever be the American Republic.
I feel the fear of these two officers. I hope they will not be used for injustice. I am praying that they will not be coerced into executing affidavits that are not true.
Magaling talaga ang EK to twist facts and the truth to serve their purpose. Sana ipalabas na ni Lacson yung diary niya pointing to the corruption activities of the fat guy.
PSB, I think this comment belongs to the previous thread. (Huling baraha). I suggest you re-post it there.
Tnx.
Cocoy, I agree that the US still the world’s superpower militarily…but only for now. Again, China would replace the US as the number one within 10 to 20 years.
I don’t think the US is afraid of waging war with China for economic reason. Sure, it will not attack China the way it did Iraq because the US knows it will be catastrophic with China having its own arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.
It’s also a reason why the US, despite Bush including North Korea in his list of axis of evil, has not attacked it.
I remember those nuclear testings they did in China decades ago because Japan was environmentally affected by them. I was already in Japan when it happened.
Can future nuclear war be prevented?
Most Sensitive US Naval Systems Compromised
Japanese Official: US Would “Certainly Lose” War vs. China
http://www.asiaamerica.org/publications/cif/cif-08-2005.htm
===========
If you just read by score card from the other thread between China and US maybe,I can convince you that US still remain the strong super power.US is a brilliant warrior. To persuade China that it is better to submit to a US-dominated world order, the US is attempting to convince it that the alternative will be worse; that defeat will be inevitable….cocoy
America has arsenals of new war technology and are continuously researching, re-inventing, deploying, re-deploying, testing, and re-testing, warfare paraphernalia, etc., etc. that it would take time, lots of time for even the most avid and clever copycat Chinese to catch up and produce a semblance of the said technology….AdeBrux
=============
The numerical superiority, technology, and strategic locations of US military assets are fine and dandy. US will surely win in any conventional warfare against any nation on earth like what occurred in World War I and World War II. But those superiority of US military assets are irrelevant once US and China war erupts. To find out, read on.
If the war erupts between US and China, it is not going to be a conventional warfare where the defeat for China will be inevitable as cocoy stated. If the war erupts between those giants, it will be a NUCLEAR WAR. It will be the World War III or the end of the world.
US and its allies will push the button, same thing with China and its allies like Russia. There are about 10,000 nuclear warheads pointed at each other. Sure, US can block maybe 1000 nuclear warheads coming from China and Russia but the other 9000 nuclear warheads will hit US cities and its allies.
So, who is the winner? The US or China? Well, you might know by now that US, China, and the rest of the world will be the loser.
http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/List_of_countries_with_nuclear_weapons/
Let’s not be frightened by this warship news that China is sending to the Spratlys. Mukhang media is making a big news out of nothing. Sa totoo lang, mga “baloto” daw lang ng mga Chinese fishermen ang makikita ngayon doon. Wala naman tension talaga doon. Gusto lang i-divert ni Remonde ang headline para naman makapaghanda sila sa dramang darating sa Pilipinas si Mancao. Tactical plan ito ng mga sipsip na military men sa gobyerno ni Gloria. Tandaan niyo ito mga katoto.
Correct. If China really wants to take all the Spratley islands, she could easily do it anytime.
Naayos na!
‘Nicole’ left for US ‘for good’—lawyer
Counsel’s services terminated
By Thea Alberto, Erika Tapalla
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:27:00 03/17/2009
Filed Under: Subic rape case, Treaties & International Organisations, Judiciary (system of justice), Constitution, Laws
MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) The Filipina who was raped by a US Marine and who fought to have him convicted and jailed left for the US “for good,” her lawyer revealed Tuesday at the launching of the “Junk VFA Movement.”
Evelyn Ursua also said that her client, who was given the name “Nicole,” also terminated her services.
Quoting “Nicole’s” mother, Ursua said her client left for the US last week and would stay there “for good.”
Ursua said “Nicole’s” mother also explained the reason behind the termination of her services, saying her daughter and the family were “tired of the case and do not want anymore to be bothered by it because ‘there is no justice in the Philippines.'”
Ursua has been “Nicole’s” counsel since February 2006, a year after the Filipina accused Lance Corporal Daniel Smith of raping her in Subic, a former American military facility.
Smith was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to up to 40 years in prison. But his detention at the US embassy has sparked controversy and gave rise to calls for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement, which the US government has cited in justifying its action.
The VFA governs the conduct of US and Filipino troops in joint exercises dubbed “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder).
Ursua said “Nicole’s” mother gave her a letter signed by her client informing her that her services were no longer needed and that she wanted “all other cases arising from or related” to the rape case dropped.
Ursua said she tried to call “Nicole” but was inaccessible.
Ursua said she could not confirm the veracity of the contents of the letter, which the lawyer said, also thanked her “for all the time and effort that you have devoted in the prosecution of the case.”
“While I have ceased to be Nicole’s lawyer, I, as a citizen who loves this country, remain committed to the cause of obtaining justice in Nicole’s case and putting an end to the iniquitous Visiting Forces Agreement,” said Ursua.
“The ‘Nicole’ that and the other lawyers represented was beyond the woman that Nicole and her family thought she was. ‘Nicole’ is every Filipino woman who was and will be raped by American soldiers. ‘Nicole’ can happen again. And so the fight against the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the presence of US troops in the country must continue,” Ursua said.
In a press conference, Senator Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal said that “perhaps there was a deal [that was] too good to refuse,” reacting to “Nicole’s” decision to terminate her lawyer’s services.
I have written my comment about Philippine Gov’t. can not get the custody of Lcpl Daniel Smith because of VFA agreement signed between RP and US in this thread March 16th, 2009 at 6:38 am.
Maybe,Nicole realized that she could not win.But, why she choose USA to find solace for her displeasure in the Philippine Justice?
Yan na nga e! Naayos na ng husto si Nicole, at malamang ay may mucho stipend pa!
Well, the rape case is now dismissed! The victim chose a big “deal” that benefits her, Gloria, Barack and Daniel Smith. No loser, all winners!
Nadramahan na naman si Juan!
Wala naman tension talaga doon. Gusto lang i-divert ni Remonde ang headline para naman makapaghanda sila sa dramang darating sa Pilipinas si Mancao. -edd
I agree, edd. Totally!
Maybe, Nicole realized that she could not win.But, why she choose USA to find solace for her displeasure in the Philippine Justice? – cocoy
Poor Nicole, she really had no chance winning her case at all, not with a pekeng president who is willing to give away every woman’s puri, including her evil own, just to get a call from Barack. If I was her, I’d chose other first world country, Gloria will be more than willing to send her anywhere just to get rid of her and fulfill Barack’s wish.
Maybe that Nicole thinks of the US of A as still the land of milk and honey. Ano naman kayang trabaho ang naghihintay sa kanya sa ‘merika, unless Barack has a ready job for her.
I can’t fault Nicole, hindi naman s’ya si David na makakaiskor sa mga Goliaths. Pero nakipag-deal na rin lang ay sana sigurado na ang kanyang future by asking milyun-milyung dolyares kapalit ng kanyang kaso (na konek sa VFA), yung nakita mismo niya na transferred sa kanyang bank account tapos ay nagpasarap na lang s’ya sa Bahamas o Greece. Ah, buhay!
From Rep. Roilo Golez:
It appears the deployment of a Chinese patrol ship is more related to the USNS Impeccable incident 70 nautical miles off Hainan, hundreds of miles from the Kalayaan island group, than the recently enacted Philippine Baseline Law.
In a modern civilized world, territorial disputes are settled the civilized way and that is through arbitration under the aegis of UNCLOS. The baselines issue is the province of diplomats, not admirals and generals.
As I said yesterday,I am more concerned about the possible eyeball to eyeball confrontation between US and Chinese warships, the South China Sea being recognized as one of the world’s major potential flashpoints.
The US dispatched one of its most powerful and largest guided missile destroyers, the USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93). The Chinese Navy does not have anything one on one that match the Chunghoon’s ultra modern capability.
The selection of the Chinese named destroyer is curious, considering that the US Navy has many destroyers of that class (more than 60).
It could be that it’s the nearest in the area. Or its name Chung-Hoon is a diplomatic reminder of Chinese-American heritage.
The ship was named after Rear Admiral Gordon Pai’ea Chung-Hoon, a Hawaii-born American of Chinese parentage. He was a graduate of the US Naval Academy Class of 1934, a World War 2 hero in naval encounters near Japan.
So it seems the US Navy sent a warship with a name that sounds friendly and conciliatory to the Chinese but packs a big wallop.
That’s what the Philippines should watch as diplomacy and hardware converge in the South China Sea.
Well, the Philippines could also send a Navy Patrol boat to the islands with Limahong’s name on it. It would also be quite friendly to the Chinese.
Ano pa ang hinihintay ng unified anti-bansot military?
Gayahin nila ang Madagascar. A spectacular night-time assault by the army backed by tanks. opposition leader Andry Rajoelina to take power after a three-month crisis which left around 100 dead.
Talagang kinakailangang may dumanak ng dugo, di talagang hindi maiiwasan na walang mag buwis ng buhay.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20090318-194726/Madagascar-president-resigns
Ellen,
I don’t quite understand if, unlike in his previous release, Roy Golez is no longer complaining about US deployment of destroyer.
Anyway:
1) America has no choice; she has to show that she cannot be “bullied” and diplomatically enough, she sends a vessel with a Chinese sound to her.
2) As ever, in a “confrontational” scenario, superpowers almost always (and even today, the first thing superpowers do is deploy their fleet) “stage” their battle in a naval scenario and this is what is happening now — US and China are “testing” their skills in an offshore environment and really, this is so very much better, at least we can be reassured that the battle won’t be inland. Roy Golez, Annapolis graduate that he is, that one of the principles of superpower/good warfare is to take the battle away from land as much as possible. Each “protagonist” knows that the ultimate deterrent resides in their naval operational capabilities
Just as I said earlier on, he has thing to be scared about.
By taking testing their “battle” to the sea, it confirms us that neither the US nor China will opt for a land invasion scenario; in any case, it should reassure Golez, in a naval atmosphere, the US will dominate.
Oops, “Just as I said earlier on, he (Golez) has NOTHING to be scared about.