Manila offers US its military bases

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Sunday, April 14, 2013
Korea Crisis
Manila offers US its military bases

The US would be allowed to station forces at military bases in the Philippines if it went to war with North Korea, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said yesterday citing a treaty between the allies.

“Our mutual defence treaty calls for joint action if either the Philippines or the United States is attacked,” del Rosario said in comments sent to AFP at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula. “It would then be logical to assume that in the event of an attack on the Philippines or on our treaty ally, the US would be allowed to use our bases,” he added.

Del Rosario was responding to a question about whether the archipelago, a former US colony, would allow the stationing of American troops on its soil in case war broke out between the US and North Korea.

The Korean peninsula has been engulfed by escalating military tensions and dire threats of nuclear war since North Korea conducted a rocket test last December and a nuclear test in February.

Read more: http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/manila-offers-us-its-military-bases/

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(Short article, no more at link.)

[davidpdx]

1. That is to be expected given the US and Philippines still are close allies

In my opinion it wouldn't help much given how far even the northern island Philippine is from North Korea except for perhaps fighter jets. Also there is no way it's going to happen in the first place.

[Kolesar]

2. I thought our Cold War airbase was ruined by volcanic eruptions...

...from Mt. Pinatubo in ~1991. "Clark" Air Force base. I wonder if it was named after that glory seeker, Mark Clark who gave it his all to capture Rome so he would be in the history books. His army took a lot of losses just to get him into the headlines.

[Paulie]

3. No named after a pilot

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_M._Clark

[brooklynite]

4. Clark was also decommissioned as a military base...

but the PAF has other locations.

[southernyankeebelle]

7. How I remember Clark AF Base. I remember like it was yesterday. I was a kid

my dad was stationed there. So many firsts happened to me there. I made my first holy communion there. The kids would run around in our underwear because it was so hot. I remember my parents (both) would make us 4 kids like bloomer underwear. I started first grade there and on the very first day I remember going to the principal's office. I was so afraid I cried and couldn't stop so the teacher sent me to the principal's office (LOL). So many many memories. Through it all the people were so nice. I saw things I will never forget.

[Kolesar]

10. Cool stories here...eom

[TomCADem]

14. It was ruined, but it has since been re-opened as a commerical airport.

nm

[bike man]

5. Clark and Subic were reopened last year

Is it possible that the prospect of more money was a motivator?

The Philippines re-opens military bases to US forces
By Carlo Munoz - 06/06/12 02:18 PM ET


<snip>American warships and fighter plans can once again call Subic Bay and Clark Air Force Base home after Manila approved limited U.S. deployments to the former American military outposts

<snip>In March, the Obama administration opted to triple the amount of military funding to the Philippines as U.S. forces look to expand their foothold in the country.

Manila will receive $30 million in foreign military funding from the the United States this year, according to news reports — nearly three times the $11.9 million in military funds Washington pledged to the Philippines in 2011.

<much more at link>
http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/operations/231257-philippines-re-opens-military-bases-to-us-forces-

[era veteran]

6. Re Clark AFB

Harold M. Clark, Born in 1890 and died on May 2, 1919.
He was the first United States airman to fly in Hawaii. Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines was named for him.

He died on May 2, 1919 in a seaplane crash in the Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal Zone and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.
Lots of Ospreys and F 18 activity at Clark two days ago. There had been a joint exercise but Ospreys were not in that scenario. Have a pal lives close by.

Mark Clark, however you think of him, had his glory of liberating Rome completely eclipsed by the D-Day landings which occurred the same day and stole the headlines.
I was born less than a mile from the crash that took HM Clark's life.

[Coyotl]

8. Military budget season again!!! n/t

[Caeser67]

9. And The Sabre rattling Gets Louder

Sigh.

[olddad56]

11. If I were young again, I'd love to go back to Olonapo again.

[southernyankeebelle]

12. The people were very loyal to the americans. I don't think that has changed much.

I have met many people from the Phillipines. Great people

[DCBob]

13. Our relationship with the Philippines has improved greatly since we left there.

This is good example of the benefit of shrinking our military footprint.