But is it disputable?
Idiotic policy and voting this man in public office was a huge mistake. Condoning vigilante justice never ends well and this is a State Sponsored Death Squad. Due process and rule of law is what separates civilizations and I’m sad to see the Philippines opting for chaos, Going after suspected drug dealers will turn into a witch hunt. Terrible times ahead for the Philippines.
im taking my time to judge the Phillipinos.
Philippines is an amazing place, mostly because of the people (the beaches way outside the capital don’t hurt). Unfortunately, there’s rampant corruption at all levels of the government. Duterte is a reflection of the Filipino’s desire to cleanse the country of the mafia like family regimes that run things.
CIA should take Duterte out - pour encourager les autres
Do it, this “aid” is mafia extortion (pizzo). The US does this all around the world, if you talk to people in those countries, many want the US out! But the US won’t go, and it’s not cause they “care so much”, it’s cause of the extortion revenue.
x
did you get her to sign a pre-nup?
I don’t disagree that the US does this (though practically everyone else does too; not saying that makes it any better). That said, net net, if the world were less volatile and more developed, the US would likely recede its presence significantly (either voluntarily or naturally as it is not needed). While its not desirable to have foreign military on your soil, you forget that many of the governments actually do want the US there because it provides support/stability as the alternative would likely be much worse. A lot of this also stems from WW2 and the Cold War in which the US served as the only viable broker to provide stability.
Certainly not a stellar track record, but the US does care actually because a stable and economically vibrant world is in its interest. I think most Americans would prefer to focus more internally and would welcome a world in which others shoulder more of the burden. Unfortunetly, there just isn’t anyone yet that has the capability (economic and military size) and generally right mind-set (openness of ideas, rule of law, economic freedoms, etc…). Europe continues to be too fragmented. Brazil and Russia are not developed enough and probably too small (in terms of population/economy/military). China and India could get there, but have a lot of ground to cover and don’t even come close to having a comparable track record. China in particular has had a mixed entrance into the global fray (e.g. South China Sea). You could argue the US wasn’t any better and maybe worse (Hawaii, Philippines, and other “manifest destiny” ventures), though I would say it’s not entirely an apples-to-apples comparison because were in 2016 and collectively supposed to be smarter. China’s territorial ambitions could also be much different and grander if the US et. al wasn’t there to act as a buffer (the US was largely unchallenged with it’s early ambitions).
All told, the US will continue this position, supported (even if begrudgingly) by most of the world until another viable option is presented. That or we elect Trump and all bets are off!
^An amazingly mature and rational post on AF. I’m blown away.
Obviously, and we should use it as such. Unfortunately (and I’m amazed you didn’t know this or else you would have thrown it in America’s face) “foreign aid” is also a form of corporate welfare. “Aid” doesn’t necessarily come in the form of a cashier’s check. Sometimes we give cash, but it’s mainly in the form of goods like crops or fighter jets and everything in between.
Take away all the foreign aid we give around the world and you’d see a huge hit to certain sectors of the economy.
That’s a good point. But in theory, we could sacrifice say, the aerospace industry, by not donating planes, and then help other industries through huge tax savings. This should be more efficient in the long term, even if there will be short term frictions. This of course, also ignores any indirect benefits from the aid (which are probably overestimated though, to be honest).
I am surprised that PA somehow opposes the US activity of “donating” goods and money to other countries to actually further the US’s own interests. This is the same guy who says people are useless if they have no money to give him. I would think he’d be singing praises for US foreign policy.
"Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte once killed a justice department official with an Uzi machine gun and was responsible for about 1,000 extra-judicial murders of criminals and political rivals during his time as a city mayor, a self-professed former death squad militiaman said.
Edgar Matobato, 57, testified in front of a nationally televised senate committee hearing on Thursday about what he was ordered to do as a militiaman in Duterte’s notorious Davao Death Squad for nearly 25 years.
Among the most disturbing allegations to come out of Matobato’s testimony was that the then-mayor of Davao City personally shot the justice department employee during a standoff at a road block in 1993."
Seems like a nice enough guy…
From the Economist this week…
The wit and wisdom of Rodrigo Duterte
On being stuck in a traffic jam during a papal visit to Manila
“Pope, son of a whore, go home. Don’t visit any more.”
On Singapore’s execution of a Filipina maid.
“F**k you… You are a garrison pretending to be a country”
In response to a question about human-rights abuses.
“F**k You, UN, you can’t even solve the Middle East carnage…shut up all of you.”
On the killing of a Filipino journalist.
“Just because you’re a journalist, you are not exempted from assassination if you’re a a son of a bitch.”
…WELL, isn’t he just the dickens…
Silver lining… at least Trump is only Duterte_Lite_
Very sad read. I can’t imagine how this is sustainable.
^ American police are executing citizens in the streets every day. At least the Philippines are targeting criminals.
Somewhere in Philippines, some guys are going, “But he’s not politically correct”, “He says it like it is”, “I’m tired of establishment politicians like Aquino”, “Terrorists would be crushed”.
I understand that you have your agenda to push but seriously.
Why? It’s totally true. US is no different from this 3rd world country, just thugs in the street with badges murdering citizens.
US: population 320 million, ~1,000 people shot by police each year (only ~150 unarmed in 2015) with investigations, not on state orders with due process still in place
Philippines: population 98 million, ~3,000 people shot by police in past 3 months (12,000 annual rate) in entirely unarmed on state order without due process or investigation
You can argue the details, but those facts exist