The US Will Re-Open Massive Philippine Bases Not Occupied Since The Cold War (Clark and Subic Bay)

Business Insider ^ | 6/8/12 | Robert Johnson

[LibWhacker]

With the U.S. moving the majority of its naval fleet to the Pacific, commanders are eagerly looking for invitations to park the planes and ships that will be pouring into the region.

Travis Tritten at Stars and Stripes reports that the Pentagon has apparently been fanning the old flame of friendship with the Philippines and will be re-opening two bases it left in 1991 — Subic Bay and Clark Air Base.

The U.S. had a falling out with the island nation in the early nineties and pulled out of the bases, which were then built-up by a series of private developers and builders. How useful what's left is a matter of debate, but the locations used to be major centers of operation for American forces in the Pacific.

[LibWhacker]

Jeepmee, jeepmee

Lol, I love it! I never in my life spent a day in the Philippines and I already feel like I speak the language.

[Mark17]

bump

[Mark17]

The bar girls are pretty hot.

Many really hot women are not bar girls at all. I got a real hot one myself. I hope they re open the bases, then I can fly in there on the C5s that are surely to come.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I remember at the time that the PI government wanted us to pay almost double to continue the leases.

[FCinSD]

I was stationed at Subic Bay Naval Station when Mt Pinatubo erupted. At that point, the base negotiations were nearly complete. The only sticking point remaining was that the US wanted the new term to be 10 years, PI only wanted it to be 7 years before the next renewal.

After the eruption, the US was no longer as interested because of the predicted cost of the clean up and repairs. The base at Subic had lost over 80 buildings, most collapsed due to the weight of the ash, along with the rains from the super typhoon that also hit at the same time.

The negotiations just fell through after that. It was portrayed by some of the politicians as them “kicking us out,” but that was just for political gain.

Subic was the best liberty port in the Pacific IMHO. It was so friendly and laid back. I would have retired there in 1 more year if the volcano hadn't changed my plans for me. If the bases did open back up, I'd go back to stay.

[FCinSD]

LOL, I lived on East Tapinac in the mid 70’s. Roosters for alarm clocks, and many other memories ;)

[Windcatcher]

The terms of the lease are everything. The Gitmo treaty is surprisingly short — it will fit on a single page, for instance, and allows us lease rights in perpetuity as long as we don’t violate the few terms on it and as long as *both sides* don’t mutually agree to end it.

[Red_Devil 232]

San Miguel beer - Make that a five star San Miguel beer

[elcid1970]

When I was in Vietnam, the arrival of a palletload of San Miguel beer was greeted with hosannas & shouts of joy.

[ConradofMontferrat]

‘75 was when I was there. Last tour of duty. I actually got discharged in PI.

[treetopsandroofs]

Are we going to quietly close Gitmo and send the prisoners there, or is this what we’ve agreed to give the Taliban for easing up until after November?

[af_vet_1981]

There are women rights groups that also don’t want us in the Philippines.

I sympathize with them. Would we want to turn American daughters into sexual slaves to service the Filipino (or any other country) military ? I find the fond memories expressed by some for the slaves, which is what prostitutes are, to ... miss the mark. If this were your last chance before eternity is that really the legacy you want to have ? Giving love and honor to one wife is a far better legacy. People are so weak and easily led astray.

[OldGoatCPO]

I have heard it will be a smaller foot print based on the more mobile force concept. It will be like Japan with restricted liberty etc. The Senators opposed may be more receptive as the Chinese are getting more aggressive. But one should never fail to consider how corrupt and stupid Philippine politicians can be. I prefer we negotiate with Nam for access to Cam Ran Bay. Leave the PI to its own devices and put our so called special relationship to bed forever!

[OldGoatCPO]

I was in Manila at that time. We wanted some concessions with the closure of Clarke and repairs at Cubi and Subic. PI pols thought they had us over a barrel but Cheney was not budging. The corrupt anti USA pols saw money to be made with the largest dry docks in Asia. They did not realized the docks were not permanent structures. I heard they did not find out until the first dry dock arrived in Guam. Truth is outside of Olongapo there was no special relationship, unless you equate the love of dollars to loving Americans. My wife is a very well educated Filipina from Manila and she is familiar with the negotiations. She felt the rich politicians did not care about the jobs provided by the base for the poor. Trends against prostitution were already beginning and had the bases remained anti-sex trafficking laws would have made most bars off limits years ago.
It was portrayed by the Philipino politicians as kicking us out for political gain most Americans aware of the details understood it was more about money and Cheney and Bush refusing to be held over a barrel. I say we build a new era of special relationship with Vietnam.

[OldGoatCPO]

We’re you ever stationed there?

[OldGoatCPO]

Marilyn’s

[OldGoatCPO]

I fondly remember that reading room wasn’t it next to a quiet piano bar called JOLOs?

[OldGoatCPO]

Chinese want the Spratly Islands they do not want the Philippines. I say we never go back move our forces else where or leave Asia entirely. At any given time the Filipinos, Koreans, or Japanese hate us, protest against us so let us go home and leave them to their own devices. Stop foreign aid and wash our hand's of Teddy Roosevelt's grand Asian plan.

[OldGoatCPO]

Chinese want the Spratly Islands they do not want the Philippines. I say we never go back move our forces else where or leave Asia entirely. At any given time the Filipinos, Koreans, or Japanese hate us, protest against us so let us go home and leave them to their own devices. Stop foreign aid and wash our hand's of Teddy Roosevelt's grand Asian plan.

[dsm69]

Thanks for the info on Pinatubo and the base negotions, FCinSD.

I would have retired there in 1 more year if the volcano hadn't changed my plans for me. If the bases did open back up, I'd go back to stay.

There are many American Military Retirees living in and around both the Subic Bay and Angeles City areas, bases or no bases. I have heard from a few former shipmates that have made return trips to Subic after the base closed. They say the place is really nice and although Olongapo City itself is pretty quiet now, nightclub/barscene wise, the Barrio and Subic City is still going strong like before.

There is a Retired Activities Office (RAO) in the Barrio, serving DOD military retirees, as well as a thriving VFW Post in the Barrio. The American Legion Post on Magsaysay is still open and there is also a Fleet Reserve Association Post going in San Antonio (outside the old San Miguel Naval Communications station). Below are a couple of links you can check out for the RAO and the Barrio VFW Post - they have lots of up to date info on the Subic Bay area.

http://www.raosubic.com/

http://www.vfw11447.org/index.html