General Info

[Sam 14]

I don't pretend to know what's going on with US/Phil relations because I don't, but Naome Klein talks about that kind of behavior in her excellent book The Shock Doctrine, the Rise Of Disaster Capitalism.

You are right. They ain't going no where. Its not a relief and rescue mission but creating a base for American empire. Like they did in Haiti. Everyone must read the below article and today UK is sending its biggest warship to the region. One of the biggest aircraft carriers from US is already there.

[url]http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-mili...-in-tacloban/.

[OralFanatic]

You are right. They ain't going no where. Its not a relief and rescue mission but creating a base for American empire. Like they did in Haiti. Everyone must read the below article and today UK is sending its biggest warship to the region. One of the biggest aircraft carriers from US is already there.

While this build-up is referred to as 'providing assistance, ' it is clear that the US military is just not 'assisting' their Philippine counterparts, but commanding them. US forces are operating the air traffic control tower at the Tacloban airport, controlling which flights are allowed to land and take off there.

Wow. Are there still US military forces in Haiti? No, they left in 2010; all of them.

Regarding the temporary control tower / radar system; does anyone in the Philippine military (or private sector) have any training on this equipment? No doubt the volume of aircraft coming in to Tacloban has surged and from the sounds of it. 80% to 90% are US military aircraft. When you are contributing 90% of the hardware, you get to run the show. With the safety of my American brothers and sisters on the line, as well as the billions of American taxpayer funded hardware, I don't see this happening any other way.

Washington did not 'deploy' a massive military force to the region; we were already there. The region is called Asia and we've had hardware and ass on the line in Asia for as long as I've been alive.

[Econo Tech]

I'm not here to defend the Philippine government but reports of the devastation didn't begin to arrive until Saturday. The first American team, led by a USMC colonel from the embassy's Joint Military Assistance Group (JUSMAGPHIL) , was in Tacloban on Sunday. This group did the assessment that was provided to Pacific Command in Hawaii and the Pentagon and then orders to 7th Fleet, etc. were sent.

Errr. Sort of everybody, other than the PH govt knew what havoc a Cat 4 storm can create, so much so, the USN is supposed to have pre-positioned their survey ship even before the Typhoon hit.

The Military Sealift Command-operated USNS Bowditch (T-AGS 62) , a USA Navy vessel purposely built to survey the seafloor, and one of the first vessels on scene in the Philippines. This ship was actually anchored in the Philippines immediately before the storm hit and had sortied in advance.

My point is, the whole world knew what will happen, except PNoy and his excellent team. Then they blamed it on the Storm Surge. Surge or no surge, they must have evac'd the place clean.

After all, the overwhelming majority of the educated masses believe he left Tacloban and Leyte to go to hell as they were not under his friend's rule (I. E Marcos' controlled areas.)

It is fair in Politics, says most of the educated masses, knowing what happened and is happening. And Pnoy can rest assured his friends of Team PNoy will be the next powers-be in that area.

[Hutsori]

Which, if PH govt had asked US Govt as the shit hit the ceiling (I. E. The day the Typhoon hit) , the US crew would have been more than happy to put practice to use.

I'm not here to defend the Philippine government but reports of the devastation didn't begin to arrive until Saturday. The first American team, led by a USMC colonel from the embassy's Joint Military Assistance Group (JUSMAGPHIL) , was in Tacloban on Sunday. This group did the assessment that was provided to Pacific Command in Hawaii and the Pentagon and then orders to 7th Fleet, etc. were sent.

That the relief team, currently the size of a battalion, is led by a lieutenant general (3 stars) , a rank that commands an army such 8th Army in Korea or a fleet such as 7th Fleet in Japan, demonstrates the seriousness of the mission. Lt Gen Wissler is the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) based in Okinawa.

Another commentator here stated: "Its not a relief and rescue mission but creating a base for American empire." Bollocks.

[Econo Tech]

While this build-up is referred to as 'providing assistance, ' it is clear that the US military is just not 'assisting' their Philippine counterparts, but commanding them. US forces are operating the air traffic control tower at the Tacloban airport, controlling which flights are allowed to land and take off there.

Well, it is fair, that the US use these opportunities to hone their skills.

Post 2004, a few Asian countries do regular exercises with USAF, flying in their FLY-away ATC, first delivery of road clearing crew / fork lifts / dozers etc. And letting them simulate a disaster relief op. Which, if PH govt had asked US Govt as the shit hit the ceiling (I. E. The day the Typhoon hit) , the US crew would have been more than happy to put practice to use.

Then again, the PH govt sort of sat on it for days, till others had to nudge them that winning the upcoming mayoral election is ok, but not sacrificing the people in lieu.

[Starchild2012]

I would guess a massive influx of foreign military, U. N. And NGOs in Cebu completely ruining P4P and filling up hotels and restaurants as in Port au Prince, Haiti. I really hope I am wrong on this as my favorite destination will be destroyed.

You are right. They ain't going no where. Its not a relief and rescue mission but creating a base for American empire. Like they did in Haiti. Everyone must read the below article and today UK is sending its biggest warship to the region. One of the biggest aircraft carriers from US is already there.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-mili...cloban/5358799

Washington has deployed a massive military force to the region. The nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, with 5, 000 sailors and 80 aircraft, is in the Leyte Gulf, along with its strike group of two guided-missile cruisers, two guided-missile destroyers, a cargo ship, an oceanographic survey ship and a submarine tender. These are to be joined by 3 amphibious warfare ships and 2 littoral combat ships. Some 850 US troops are on the ground in Leyte and are to be joined by an additional 1, 000 US Marines in the next two days.

Joint Task Force 505, under the command of Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John E. Wissler, has set up headquarters for the US forces in Camp Aguinaldo, the military headquarters of the Philippine Army.

While this build-up is referred to as 'providing assistance, ' it is clear that the US military is just not 'assisting' their Philippine counterparts, but commanding them. US forces are operating the air traffic control tower at the Tacloban airport, controlling which flights are allowed to land and take off there.

'We are controlling 250 ops (operations) per day, ' USA Air Force Master Sgt. Clinton Dykes told the US military publication Stars and Stripes on November 15. The number of operations has increased significantly since then.

The Philippine military is being deployed as armed crowd control in the city of Tacloban, implementing a de facto system of martial law, with an 8 pm–6 am curfew. The hundreds of armed military and police patrolling streets are further supplemented by the armed private guards who defend the homes and property of the wealthy.

[Econo Tech]

Brilliant!

I read aloud the "report" and she spontaneously combusted.

If I fess up that it's only a joke should I fear for my life?

I am sure there is a PNG notice against you. Forget visiting PH.

It is only a matter of time before a prompt senate resolution is passed, condemning you (yes, you, don't' ask the logic of shooting the messenger.)

Welcome to PH.

[Hutsori]

BTW, for those who don't believe Filipinos can get super emotional, do read the comments. The comments are more hilarious than the actual news item!

http://adobochronicles.com/2013/11/2...ext-two-years/

Brilliant!

Me: "Baby, did you hear the sad news? The Philippines is banned from competing in all international beauty pageants for the next 2 years."

Girl: "What? What?"

I read aloud the "report" and she spontaneously combusted.

If I fess up that it's only a joke should I fear for my life?

[Pete Benetar]

I would guess a massive influx of foreign military, U. N. And NGOs in Cebu completely ruining P4P and filling up hotels and restaurants as in Port au Prince, Haiti. I really hope I am wrong on this as my favorite destination will be destroyed.

I don't think the numbers of military will ever be that overwhelming, not American anyways. There being routed to different areas and able commanders will want to keep troopers on a short leash in an already chaotic environment. You may know Haiti better then me but the few times I've been there the list of cons is so long I'd be running out of days of the week counting them. The regulars down in PAP were notably more fed up with UN folk who were there in big numbers and flush with cash which they were seemingly obliged to give away at quasi western rates for satisfying their libido. Nowhere close to the PI, IMO. Add the PI is much larger as well. Even if US gets "invited" back to PI I can't imagine a reopened Subic as she once was unless we empty out the Korean peninsula which of course is not going to happen anytime soon. US DoD is facing big cuts and still have to extricate from US self absorbed mess SW Asia.

[Econo Tech]

BTW, for those who don't believe Filipinos can get super emotional, do read the comments. The comments are more hilarious than the actual news item!

http://adobochronicles.com/2013/11/2...ext-two-years/

[Soapy Smith]

I would guess a massive influx of foreign military, U. N. And NGOs in Cebu completely ruining P4P and filling up hotels and restaurants as in Port au Prince, Haiti. I really hope I am wrong on this as my favorite destination will be destroyed.

Recent history with American CIA, Secret Service, and State Department employees suggest that some among their ranks also like pussy. They always have. They will, of course, be accompanied by women colleagues who might look dimly on their prurient pursuits. Even NGO workers may be human. There's a recent book out (*Chasing Chaos*) by an American woman, probably 30ish, describing her ten years in humanitarian NGO aid work. I haven't read it yet but probably will. Among other things, she apparently argues that most NGO workers are humanly "flawed"; they are not angels, despite the stereotypes. I have heard that she offers some background on the ways that aid workers often party hardy and do short-term hookups as a part of relieving their own stress and exposure to trauma. I think the jury is still out about the effects these groups will have.

We might, on the other hand, fear the longer-term effects these foreign professionals will have on lifting the Philippines out of poverty, and thus removing the conditions that lead all the SWTs into plying the trade. Fortunately, the track record for professionals from "the North" lifting Third World countries out of poverty is not strong. Ultimately, if the light bulb doesn't want to be changed, it doesn't matter how many shrinks try to twist it out of the socket. Development in the Philippines, and all over the developing world, hinges much more on the locals than the foreign change agents.

Sorry to kick sand in the face of Westerners in this forum who do development work; I guess I am one of them. But hopefully most of us realize that our job security rests much more with policy makers in our own countries than with much of anything in our interactions with the locals.

[Cunning Stunt]

not to seem insensitive, but this is a mongering forum. any thoughts about what, if any, effect the big typhoon may have on the mongering market? one might speculate that because of the sudden rash of homelessness and financial catastrophe in leyte, we might see a massive influx of fresh pussy in the manila and ac markets, thereby increasing supply and lowering prices. what do you all think?

bound to see an influx of homeless families hitting cebu city and many perhaps heading for the ncr, which will mean more itinerant beggars on the streets, many with nothing to sell except their offspring. a human tragedy. also an increase in [CodeWord908] with many of the women and girls fetching up in casas, bars or working the streets but not entirely voluntarily.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/wom...-greening.html

[Econo Tech]

And Roxas has the the radio / TV show wife (Korina Sanchez) who thought CNN and Anderson Cooper were not being fair. So she will be giving some more fair reporting on this LOL.

Of course, she is objective, and has won enough sympathy votes. So much so many Pinoys have started to curse Anderson Cooper for making life miserable for Filipinos. Etc. Etc. Including some Letter from a retired Govt Servant who said "I will bear the pain of Anderson Cooper's bad reporting, for the good of my people."

That wins votes, my friend.

[Pip Jaeger]

Not to seem insensitive, but this IS a mongering forum. Any thoughts about what, if any, effect the big typhoon may have on the mongering market? One might speculate that because of the sudden rash of homelessness and financial catastrophe in Leyte, we might see a massive influx of fresh pussy in the Manila and AC markets, thereby increasing supply and lowering prices. What do you all think?

RG

As I already mentioned in the Cebu and AC threads, an influx of girls will certainly happen. However, I don't think you'll see any price decreases, if anything they'll most likely ply on your sympathies and probably try to get as much as they can. One girl I met last night is awaiting her 19 year old sister to arrive from Leyte via Cebu. She asked if I would be interested in seeing her; of course I'll make another donation for the cause, LOL.

I would guess a massive influx of foreign military, U. N. And NGOs in Cebu completely ruining P4P and filling up hotels and restaurants as in Port au Prince, Haiti. I really hope I am wrong on this as my favorite destination will be destroyed.

Good point David, but me thinks you're just worried about competition at the Marriot's buffet, it was bad enough with those fat white NGO ladies last time, LOL. Hopefully they'll stay out on Mactan as the airport seems to be the hub / primary staging area for the relief efforts or maybe the Radisson, it was almost empty when I left and was undergoing extensive repairs too.

[Wicked Roger]

I would guess a massive influx of foreign military, U. N. And NGOs in Cebu completely ruining P4P and filling up hotels and restaurants as in Port au Prince, Haiti. I really hope I am wrong on this as my favorite destination will be destroyed.

Sitting in my 'office' the other day David I did notice a larger than normal amount of westerners some with huge backsides (thus proving why we prefer Asian women). Lots of new faces some with name badges!

While my 'office' is a small sample you know that it does attract lots of new people so best to assume this is happening. I hope the NGOs focus on relief help and don't start doing more of the IJM stuff as that will ruin your / my and others favourite destination even further. My usual hotel was also much busier.