Ambassador Kenney: We did not meddle in MoA-AD

16 Responses to “Ambassador Kenney: We did not meddle in MoA-AD”

1. Bencard on August 30th, 2008 12:18 am

   philippine society has become so frayed that it has become a knee-jerk reaction to suspect evil motives everytime the u.s expresses a preference on issues that the philippines is wrestling with at the moment.

   the u.s foreign policy is generally guided by its own national interest, and that interest is judged solely by the americans. the triumph of democracy over any form of totalitarianism is almost always at the forefront of americans’ aspirations because they believe that only that kind of government system would ensure their national interests and safety.

   why begrudge americans for that kind of aspiration? why ascribe to it every possible malintention that one can imagine? is it wrong for america to be on the side of lasting peace in mindanao as they envision it, and to manifest it without being accused of “intervention”?

   let it not be said that america has its own multitude of enemies and haters the world over, some of them home-based and home-grown. as i see it, these are the virulent groups that sow hatred of america for one detestable motive or another - i don’t discount the fact that america is so strong, so rich, so free, so developed socially, economically and politically, and so diversed - as one of the sources of that hatred.

2. UP n student on August 30th, 2008 2:02 am

   But the US has been meddling in the MILF vs Govt-Republic-Philippines Mindanao issue. The MILF has known of many of US intentions, which is why the former MILF Chairman Salamat has written to Dubya Bush to affirm that the MILF will always be against terrorism. [Salamat did not want MILF to be on US State Department foreign-terrorist-organization list.] The meddling-nature affirmed again om a US$30-million offer. A January 10, 2006 SunStar newsclip has this:
   Manila opened peace negotiations with the MILF, the country’s largest separatist Muslim rebel group, in 2001 in an effort to end the bloody fighting and develop Mindanao.

   Many Arab countries and even the influential Organization of Islamic Conference and the World Muslim League are strongly supporting the peace process, and President George W. Bush offered as much as $30 million in financial assistance to help develop Mindanao should the MILF seal a peace agreement with Manila. The money would be used to help the rebels get back to the mainstream of society.

   President Arroyo previously said that 80 percent of the peace talks have been completed and that peace in Mindanao is within reach and MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim has said his group is sincere in the talks and is willing to end the war in Mindanao.

   http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2006/01/10/rebels.bare.program.for.war.torn.mindanao.html

3. UP n student on August 30th, 2008 2:07 am

   Side-topic: I bet a McDonald’s burger that at least three metro-Manila media people do not remember (and may not even know!!!) of the $30-million offer that Bush has made. And if they don’t know of it, then they do not know what the MILF’s luwaran-dot-com website writes as to the MILF response to the offer.

4. UP n student on August 30th, 2008 2:31 am

   And if you don’t trust Sunstar (a Filipino news organization), the same $30-million amount is mentioned in Arabnews, the leading Middle East english-language daily:

   http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=76045&d=10&m=1&y=2006&pix=world.jpg&category=World

5. Bencard on August 30th, 2008 2:39 am

   upn, that’s the kind of meddling that is welcomed anytime, anywhere, especially by the needy (as long as they don’t have to give their souls in return). in the context of a world community, that is “corporate responsibility” in action.

6. J on August 30th, 2008 9:23 am

   Oh really, bencard. I didn’t know the Taliban and Pervez Musharaff were strong advocates of freedom and democracy.

   But I wonder why the sudden interest of the USIP in the “First Nation” paradigm only after 2003, when Salamt wrote Bush. I wonder, too, why Kabalu said the MILF is open to the possibility of the establishment of US military bases in their territories.

   And I wonder most specially why Kenney went to Kuala Lumpur, in the same plane with Romulo and Esperon, to witness the signing of something that her staff didn’t even provide her a copy of. And why she witheld the announcement of a 25 million dollar aid package when the signing was aborted.

7. Bencard on August 30th, 2008 10:54 am

   j, there you go again reading something in my comments that isn’t there. where did i say taliban and musharaff are “advocates of freedom and democracy”? please don’t attribute to me your own kakamamie ideas.

   keep wondering till you are blue on the face. but remember what i said. the u.s. acts according to its best interest of which it is the sole judge. so, if u.s. wants to witness the signing of some documents, or change its mind about a proposed hand-out, i believe it has all the right to do so.

8. J on August 30th, 2008 2:17 pm

   bencard, you said: “the triumph of democracy over any form of totalitarianism is almost always at the forefront of americans’ aspirations because they believe that only that kind of government system would ensure their national interests and safety.”

   Musharraf and the Taliban were supported by the States early on.

   And your right, the US solely acts according to its interests. Sometimes at the expense of its allies.

9. Bencard on August 30th, 2008 9:49 pm

   j, try to focus on the qualifier “almost always” in my comment you quoted. at any rate, america makes mistake too from time to time - they are not perfect, you see. sometimes they would support regimes in the hope the latter would choose the path of democracy and freedom, only to be disappointed and betrayed in the end.

   in the case of “allies”, e.g., the philippines, i think the problem lies in the mindset, or mental habit, if you will, that as “allies” we have to be constantly favored and catered to over others - fostering a dependent and mendicant expectations.
   why can’t we learn to think and act according to our best national interest too like the u.s.? if we have to part ways with them from time to time, damn it, let’s do it - instead of whining and bellyaching that we are not getting the favors and attention we are entitled to as “allies”.

10. Dean Jorge Bocobo on September 1st, 2008 5:48 am

    No need to get metaphysical here. Kristie Kenney was duped by Malacanang, played like a fiddle by Gloria. She’s a simpleton and an embarrassment to the United States. But it is a sign that the Philippines is once more “off the radar” even at the State Dept since her statement sounds like they never really “engaged” in the issues of MOA-AD, allowing USIP to dictate the “peace technology.” Her time is up!

11. Ding G. Gagelonia on September 1st, 2008 7:21 am

    Dean,
    Literally, indeed, Kenney’s time is up. A you correctly put it we “are off the American radar with the US elections on deck. We wait till Obama is elected, unless McCain pulls an upset, right?
    But am worried if the Republicans stay in the White House. I remember too well how Reagan cuddled the dictator.

    Obama and his views on the Philippines are still largely unknown apart from how he wisely avoided GMA. I know though that Barack has a Filipina on his senior advisory team.

12. Dean Jorge Bocobo on September 1st, 2008 7:43 am

    People would be wrong to think Obama is some kind of peace freak. I’ve read all his speeches and listened to his reading of The Audacity of Hope. He is a JFK type hawk, i.e. a mailed fist in a velvet glove. American Foreign Policy is always inherited from administration to adminstration. Most people are not aware for example that it was the Clinton-era Iraq Liberation Act which made Iraq such a natural target (and legitimate worry) as it called for regime change there as part of US foreign policy. Clinton bombed Baghdad with 300 cruise missiles in December 1998 after signing the law. One sobering thought is that every major war in the 20th century was fought and/or became their bloodiest under a Democrat President. Under Obama, Afghanistan and Southeast Asia will become a major theatre of operations for US counter terrorism efforts. But even that is consequence of victory in Iraq (recently defined by Gen. Petraeus as a local government able to carry the fight on its own–which Iraq seems ready to take the responsibility for).

13. Ding G. Gagelonia on September 1st, 2008 7:59 am

    Yup, America for America.

14. Bencard on September 1st, 2008 9:18 am

    if there’s anything i hate the most is some ordinary joe blow passing judgment, rather gratuitously and condescendingly, on another far superior than him/her in every way, shape or form. ambassador kenney would not be representing u.s.a., even in a third world country, if she was a “simpleton”. u.s.a. is not like the philippines where certified nincompoops can be appointed if the political connection is “right”.

    dream on, ding gagelonia. the same coalition that put reagan in the white house is now solidly behind mccain/palin. obama will go the way of flash-in-the-pan, one-hit, rocker.

    btw, remember what i said, america will do whatever is good for america.

15. AdB on September 1st, 2008 9:41 am

    Agree with DJB’s take:

    “People would be wrong to think Obama is some kind of peace freak. I’ve read all his speeches and listened to his reading of The Audacity of Hope. He is a JFK type hawk, i.e. a mailed fist in a velvet glove.

16. Ding G. Gagelonia on September 1st, 2008 10:12 am

    Atty. Ben,
    Read my post again. I am not a pro-Obama dreamer. I dream only of Filipinos controlling theeir destiny.

    I’d rather not tangle, but it is intresting how you use the term condescending. While I certainly agree with you that Amb. Kenney is no simpleton, condescending is how you often sound. One request, get off from your high horse, sir.

    But be assured, Atty. Benjamin Cardinez, | have only admiration for your erudite missives here at FV. THEY REALLY ADD DEEPER PERSPECTIVE EVEN AS WE DON’T ALWAYS AGREE.WE DON’T HAVE TO, RIGHT?

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