Barack Obama-Arroyo Meeting: Issues on Myanmar, North Korea and Mindanao

(cross-posted over at http:www//newphilrevolution.com) It was sup­posed to be a 45 minute meet­ing, yet, Mrs. Glo­ria Macapagal-Arroyo’s “his­toric” meet­ing with iconic US Pres­i­dent Barack Obama only took 30 min­utes, half of it spent in a joint press con­fer­ence. There was how­ever, a 15 minute joint brief­ing between del­e­gates from the Philip­pines and some US offi­cials prior to the Obama-Arroyo meet­ing inside the Oval Office.

Before the meet­ing, Arroyo first met US House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Barack wore a dark grey busi­ness suit while Arroyo wore her sig­na­ture “red dress” with her designer black bag in her side. Barack sat at the right side fac­ing the media while Arroyo sat at the left.

The meet­ing was described by reporters who cov­ered the event as “cor­dial”, not “warm”. Obama com­mented on the “good progress” of Arroyo in deal­ing with counter-terrorism, espe­cially in ini­ti­at­ing a peace process in Min­danao, that Obama described as ” …has the poten­tial of bring­ing peace and sta­bil­ity to the heart of the Philip­pines that has been wracked by insta­bil­ity for too long.”

Barack Obama also praised the Arroyo admin­is­tra­tion for its strong stance in regional issues, such as the government’s strong stance in issues relat­ing to Myanmar.

” We are very grate­ful for the strong voice that the Philip­pines took in a range of issues including…human rights vio­la­tions that have hap­pened in the coun­try of Burma, to the prob­lems that we’ve been see­ing with respect to the nuclear pro­lif­er­a­tion in North Korea.”

Barack said he looks for­ward to his trav­els to South­east Asia. He even­tu­ally named the Philip­pines as the “coor­di­nat­ing coun­try” with the US in its rela­tion­ship with ASEAN or the Asso­ci­a­tion of South­east Asian Nations, which he describes as the “pri­mary organ of nations for South­east Asian countries”.

” In addi­tion, the Philip­pines is to head the non-proliferation treaty meetings…so we will be very busy together.…especially in deal­ing with the nuclear proliferation...”

Barack said the US gov­ern­ment looks for­ward for more strength­en­ing of rela­tions with the Philip­pines ” in the years to come.”

For her part, Mrs. Arroyo praised Obama for shar­ing sim­i­lar views with regards to Myan­mar and North Korea, which she describes as having a "nuclear adventurist" approach. She also lauded Obama’s lead­er­ship in efforts to solve the prob­lem of cli­mate change.

Why is Defense secretary Teodoro not in the official delegation to Washington?

Is'nt it very odd that Mrs. Arroyo left her Defense secretary here when the purported reason behind Washington's invitation was all about terrorism? Mrs. Arroyo deemed it wise to tag along her amigas, Congresswomen Amelita Villarosa, Cosculluela and even Cong. Susano along, with MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and his wife Marikina mayor Marides, but forgot to include her defense chief when all she will be talking with Barack Obama are defense and security matters?

It seems even strange that Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, who heads the presidential task force on Human Rights and Justice secretary Agnes Devenadera, who heads the department handling sensitive criminal and civil cases, are included. Would Obama discuss those increasing numbers of human rights cases here? Possibly, says Senator Rodolfo Biazon.

It is even more odd that a Senator, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is also with Mrs. Arroyo. What would be the role of Miriam when she does not know about defense and security matters anyway?

Senator Rodolfo Biazon said that the visit may not be as good as what she had back in 2004, the year when she was elected. There is a great possibility that Obama will discuss the worsening human rights situation in the country.

Back to my original question---what is the reason behind that decision to leave Teodoro behind? Curiously though, Teodoro's rival for the Lakas-KAMPI presidential nomination, Fernando, is with the president. Is that an indication that Teodoro has already secured Mrs. Arroyo's support and Teodoro is slowly being eased out, like what's happening with Puno?

For the latest update, go to http://www.newphilrevolution.com.

Open Letter to Barack Obama: Bloggers Help!

I heard what Press secretary Cerge Remonde told Ted Failon over DZMM this morning. He said that the open letter which a few Patriots published in selected newspapers today will not even reach the eyes and ears of Barack Obama. The letter urged Barack Obama to look at the real situation of the Philippines.

I was challenged. Ganon ba? Today, I vowed to populate the Internet and all sites, even the Pentagon and even the US.gov site to be able to reach Obama.

Let me publish here the Open Letter of Drilon and a host of others. I'll make sure that this reaches the White House ahead of the meeting. To all bloggers all over the world, especially those in the United States:

HELP US SPREAD THIS OPEN LETTER AROUND SO THAT IT REACHES THE EYES OF US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AHEAD OF THE MEETING

Here's the Open letter. It was signed by Teofisto Guingona Jr., former Senate Presidents Jovito Salonga and Franklin Drilon, former SC justice Camilo D. Quiason, former senators Wigberto Tanada, Sergio Osmena III, Vicente Paterno Jr., Agapito "Butch" Aquino, and former secretaries Josefina T. Lichauco, former solicitor-general Frank Chavez, Corazon Soliman, Juan Santos, Jejomar Binay, and Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, Atty. Harry Roque and Jun Lozada.

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

July 29, 2009

HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Washington District of Columbia
United States of America

Dear Mr. President,

We shared the wonderful jubilation of the American people during your historic election triumph. When you assumed office early this year, we rejoiced at the audacious hope that you inspired, and on your promise of change for the common good.

We joined all freedom loving people of the world who exulted when you declraed that "those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent...are on the wrong side of history."

The Filipino People share the same morals, ideals and aspirations that define the envied way of life of the American people. Filipinos yearn for the same kind of leaders that the American people yearn for themselves; leaders who are imbued with the right values, lead principled lives, and govern with the highest ethical standards. The ideals of justice, democracy and the upliftment of human rights animate the Filipino people's dreams of a better world in much the same way that these ideals animate the dreams of the American people.

Upon your invitation, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will have the chance to meet with you on July 30, 2009. In your meeting with Ms. Arroyo, it may serve you well to be mindful of Ms. Arroyo's legacy of corruption, extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, bribery, election cheating, among others. We do not wish to belabor you with the details of these high crimes which have surely been documented and reported by the U.S. State Department to your office.

The Filipino People also yearn for change from the effrontery of hopelessness and the curse of decadence that Ms. Arroyo represents. In your meeting with Mrs. Arroyo, we feel confident that you will make clear to her that a Government that does not comply with Principles of Democracy and respect for Human Rights cannot have the approval and support of your administration. We implore you Mr. President to inspire hope and be an instrument of change for the common good of the long suffering Filipino People.

signed.

US Bases in Mindanao?

A confidential document tells of US apprehension over tensions at the Korean peninsula. US President Barack Obama's official policy regarding North Korea is what analysts call "engagement policy". Three years back, writing for Foreign Policy, Obama termed his view on how America should conduct itself with the North, he wrote that US policy must be a "sustained, direct and aggressive diplomacy." Now, some analysts say, this might change after the North tested another nuclear missile (underground test) last May. But, shortly after the June 15 meeting, it seems that Obama has not changed tack. And Forbes magazine seems to fear that Obama is just another Carter when it comes to foreign policy.

What analysts probably misread about Obama's action is his tendency to use every available diplomatic tactic first before he deploys armed forces. That is what he did in Afghanistan. More than this though, Obama seems to be totally agreeable on strengthening US military might first before implementing any military action against the North.

Now, before anti-nukes activist balk, let me just say that the US needs a military base only as refuelling, landing and ammo dump---nothing more. In a sustained fight with the North, the US needs closer areas where they can immediately refuel and possibly, arm their subs and carriers and fighters.

With this in mind, the possibility of further strengthening US military facilities inside the AFP Western Mindanao military base in Zamboanga is, I think, a top Obama concern. US forces need strategically placed launching pads to strengthen the US Pacific fleet. And Mindanao seems a very good place to actually have one, since their Diego Garcia base (which serves as their present refueling station), is a good hundreds of miles away.

IN an event of an armed engagement with the North, that would probably happen in the South China sea, in the air and eventually, some nuclear strikes. Now, what is dangerous is the high possibility of Mindanao as one of the North's target should that happen. Probably, that's why Mrs. Arroyo visited South Korea?

Are we expecting also a possible re-activation of the Subic and Clark military bases and a possible installation of another one in Ilocos and Cagayan? And is this the topic of interest between the two leaders come July 30? Will Obama request such accommodations from the Philippine government? And what would be the concessions? Would Obama sacrifice democracy and stability in the Philippines in exchange for the return (of the comeback) of the US bases?