[outdriving]

"Question, aren't the Philippine Islands closer to Washington DC than to San Francisco?"

Umm, No. ????

[muawiyah]

Try the Great Circle.

[muawiyah]

6900 miles Manila to San Fran. 8500 miles Manila to Warsh DC.

1600 further ~ no doubt any invader who could readh California from a base of operations in the Philippines could make that last 20% of the way and hit DC Fur Shur.