Posted on 10/23/2016 4:41:02 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
SOMETIMES AMERICANS THINK we have won a war, only to realize years or decades later that our victory was incomplete. Now we are facing an eruption of anger over a war we waged more than a century ago. Rarely has blowback from an overseas intervention come back to haunt us so long after the shooting stopped.
This unexpected challenge has emerged from the Philippines. The new president, Rodrigo Duterte, recently announced plans to pull his country out of Americas orbit and adopt an independent foreign policy. I am anti-West, he explained. I do not like the Americans. Its simply a matter of principle for me.
Dutertes grievance is rooted in history. Americans, he asserted, unjustly seized the Philippines in 1899, waged a horrific military campaign to suppress native resistance, and have not even apologized to the Filipino nation. He waved photographs showing bodies of Filipinos killed in that war.
Soon after Duterte made that startling speech, his foreign minister, Perfecto Yasay, went even further. In 1899, Yasay asserted, the United States arrogated our victory in the struggle for freedom and then used invisible chains to bind Filipinos into shackling dependency. Americans, he said, treat Filipinos as little brown brothers not capable of true independence or freedom. To escape from that humiliation, he concluded, the Philippines must end its subservience to United States interests.
Most Americans would have no idea what these new Filipino leaders are talking about. We forgot the Philippine War long ago. Filipinos remember it vividly. It stands with the horrors of Japanese occupation during World War II as one of their great national traumas. A very old debt is finally coming due.
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonglobe.com ...
The hammer forgets. The nail remembers. But I think this is a way to blame others for the problems in their country, poverty, drugs. If we hadn’t intervened I expect they would be blaming the Spanish or Japanese. They soon may be blaming the Russians. It should be noted also that Duterte has Mohammadan relatives including a parent and at least one sibling.
Grandma MAY have been muslim but she converted and had a Christian name.
His mom was Catholic as anything. One of Cory Aquinos ladies.
I was told this by a Filipino, including how Duterte’s brother is a Mohammadan. I wouldn’t know how to confirm it.
The US Navy left a lot of money there in the 60’s and 70’s.
His ancestry has been commented on in the Phil news.
His mom had quite a track record, very active in the anti Marcos movement.
Interestingly they are also related to the Cebu Duranos, which were at least opportunistic Marcos allies.
His views were shaped by freedom fighters' arguments against anything that suppressed the Philippines.
America has been part of the ebb and flow of the Philippine political system, sometimes good, sometimes bad.
Modern times (we are making history folks) are tumultuous all over the globe and Duterte has a serious drug problem he is attacking in a VERY real sense ... HIS war on drugs allows the death of a drug dealer, not a negotiated jail term or a fine !
Duterte is running his country the way he sees fit and we, of all people have no right to advise a nation how to think about their president, or what to DO with him.
WE'VE done nothing about ours
You may fire when ready Gridley.
China and Russia cultivated a new puppet.
They want to boot America back to Hawaii.Thanks again,Obama-heck of a job.
Like Puerto Rico? We would be paying welfare over there too.
He thinks he’s so tuff, that he can stuff any genie back into its bottle.
He’s got some lessons to learn about that.
Duterte has gone all sweet with vigilantes. That’s a different story than, say, Singapore, which has the sworn representatives of government carry out whatever harshness it sees fit.
These genies are now going to be floating around and demanding baksheesh. Rotsa ruck to Duterte when he needs them crammed back into their bottle and President Trump (or Pence) says “really, little ex-brown brother?”
My dad served in the Phillipines during the war. He said the Filis were disgusting. You had to take a flashlight with you when you went down the barracks stairs because the scumballs would sneak in and sh-t in the stairwells.
He also served with the occupation forces in Tokyo, and said that despite the incredible devastation, the Japanese were working diligently to clean up the rubble. They were not crapping on the barracks stairs.
I believe you are correct sir. It's amazing how many people don't believe a word these clowns at the Globe say about conservatives, but suddenly buy everything they say about others.
He just GAVE every LEO (highly unusual) and military man, pvt on up, a brand new Glock 30.He has cleaned up the previous government, kicking out of office those that are corrupt, and the people feel safer with his hard core kill policy.
Any "vigilantism" is nothing more than the president's permission to kill drug lords.
My favorite was our guys in Korea pouring fire down on the Commies.
Yes, I agree.
This guy does seem to be on a terror recently though.
A decent president probably could have smoothed things over. Wish we had one.
Where is James Taylor when we need him?
The Philippines were ruled by the Spanish till the Spanish American war. If the US had not gone in the Japanese or the Germans would. If we leave the Muslims or the Chinese will fill the vacuum.
I don’t really care, one way or another.
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