The difference between Washington and Manila
7.15.2004
A certain Michelle Malkin had this to say about the Philippine decision to withdraw its humanitarian contingent in Iraq (from Sassy's):
Add the flag of the Philippines to the International Hall of Appeasers. Sign this pitiful nation up for a lifetime membership to the Axis of Weasels. And remind me never again to brag about the proud fighting spirit of my ancestors.
I never thought I'd say this, but I'm deeply, mortifyingly ashamed of my parents' native land. The island nation has gone and pulled a Spain (and a France and a Germany). Philippine president Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo has crumbled like a fried lumpia wrapper under pressure from radical Muslim terrorists.
the whole article is under http://www.townhall.com/columnists search her name. I refuse to post a direct link lest I ive her more values on page rank. That is to say, her article thinks negatively of the Philippine decision. Unfortunately, her analysis lacked depth, and was mere exploratory. It is that tone that irked me, because she comes across as authoritative, when in fact, she did not even consider geo-political, socio-cultural, or any analysis of the sort that considers relevant factors.
I had to respond:
I would say that your commentary is based so much on emotion more than political analysis. It seems to me that you are expecting a pet to lick face and follow your every whim, or the US that is to say. It's a pity that you are syndicated for these purposes. The problem with your comment is that it does not look beyond or underneath any circumstance. In fact, it's more a diary than any political assessment.
Try to analyze the same situation in light of political atmosphere in the United States, the November Elections, shifting alliances, and the discovery that Bush was in fact THE ONE WHO LIED.
The Philippines still denounces terrorism, but this decision highlights that the evil is no longer distinct. Whereas in the past the support for war on Iraq was based on a 'supposed' link between Saddama and Osama, up to which today remains unfounded, now, it is a realization on the Philippine government's part that they should not be supporting a war that is not theirs in the first place. Gloria Arroyo could have just seen the light that anti-war activists have been flashing on her face all along... quite earlier than any other leader did.
You could have studied the situation in terms of shifting alliances, in terms of the November Elections in the US, the public pressure in the Philippines, the repurcussions it has on the stability of the government, the possibility of a future terrorist attack in Manila, or possibly
in light of increasing International opinion against the war.
And yet you did not. I do not understand why you would not have done so. The problem here is you equate the war with terrorism with the war with Iraq. Not true. Bush lied. And the Philippines was the first to see that and do something about it. Other countries still cower underneath the fold of America deferring action until they find out if Bush will win or not.
The fight against terrorism must be on moral grounds, not over Bush' econo-politik. And the Philippines saw that there is no longer any moral ground in war in Iraq. In terrorism there is, but Iraq does not equal terrorism. I say, the Philippines did a good job by standing on its own protecting its interests this time around. It's been scores and scores of years that the US is getting the better of us, it's time it's shown to their faces that they can no longer be bullying the world.
Hence, the difference between Bush' Washington and Manila is that in Manila, we will not exchange one life for an unjustified cause, while in the former, the US is still divided, and will gamely have it's own people die, and its troops and other countries troops and continue a war with half the population still believing that is just.
Labels: Politics
posted by Jdavies @ 7/15/2004,
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The Author
J.Davies
Jdavies lives in Quezon City, Philippines and has been blogging since 2002. A brand manager in a leading technology company and a freelance new media/web strategy consultant, he has refocused his blogging from personal, political & sociological observations, to marketing-related efforts and Internet trends that are relevant to his career and branding advocacies.
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This blog is a depot of thoughts and observations on marketing trends which remain personally relevant to the Author as far as his marketing career is concerned. Having evolved from the personal blog of Jdavies, much of the earlier work contained herein are laced with personal speculation, political views, and similar advocacies. These posts are being kept for posterity's sake and for no other reason. No effort is being made to claim that the author will not contradict himself from his previous positions or that such advocacies are absolute.
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