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Philippine president wants U.S. forces out of restive south

36 Comments
By JIM GOMEZ

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American colonial forces killed many Muslims in the southern Philippines more than a century ago “because you were here as imperialists, you wanted to colonize my country and because you had a hard time pacifying the Moro people,” Duterte said in the speech.

WOW, the Philippines elected this guy to represent them? That's a massive chip on your shoulder to be governing with if you still live in the past. Kind of reminds me of a few other nations in the neighbour who seem to live in the past while they try and get their way today. You seriously don't expect to be taken seriously, do you?

9 ( +13 / -4 )

cut the philipines loose.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

I have a feeling Duterte is not going to be around as president for much longer.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

cut the philipines loose.

We could, but then they would be lassoed by China, and the American military would be replaced by the Chinese military. No doubt China would pay handsomely to help fuel the corruption and instability of the Philippines, benefitting the crooks who run both countries, and further grinding down the ordinary people. China wants more than anything else to expand it's power in the region, and don't think Duterte won't sell out his support if they pay him enough.

Duterte is a fool of the worst sort, yet the voters are more foolish yet for putting him in power. They are going to regret his presidency for generations to come. Worse yet, the consequences of putting a guy like this in office are not limited just to the Philippines.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

Wow all these country's are turning on America now.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Maybe he should kiss up to the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines. I would suggest a feel -good face to face meeting to ease the terrorist's bruised feelings.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

The US should bring all its military forces home. Its empire has faded; the world has tired of its self-appointed role as global police.

I'm not looking forward to China replacing the US, but have no desire to see the two nations involve the rest of the world in some terrible battle of borgs playing with nukes.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Duterte is a fool of the worst sort, yet the voters are more foolish yet for putting him in power. They are going to regret his presidency for generations to come. Worse yet, the consequences of putting a guy like this in office are not limited just to the Philippines.

Let's just hope this isn't foreshadowing of the Americans making an equally foolish decision by putting Trump in power.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Duterte is kind of similar to Shintaro Ishihara (The Japan That Can Say No), isn't he?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Duterte Harry really is a breath of fresh air.....

0 ( +5 / -5 )

250 years in a convent, 50 years in a brothel. Brief history of the Philippines under first Spanish and then US rule.

The protest signs outside Clark Air Base in Luzon, first used to read 'Americans go home', then they included 'And Take me with you', and the economy dropped.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

cut em loose. let the philipine people rectify their mistake - or not as the case may be. Another image of Obama "showing class" ( and taking it up the ---) by taking this insulting to the US behavior from a goon is just what the US ( and whats left of its standing in the world) does not need. As even "progressives" may be starting to figure out, the more you take the worse it gets.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

"Wow all these country's are turning on America now." How quickly they forget. The USA taxpayers have asked for many years that the USA military come home. What happens when China, NK, Iran et al threaten them, those countries run to the nearest USA embassy and ask for help. It seems impossible, but the Philippines could actually be vaporized by one misstep by NK or other nuclear powers. China probably will just sit back and watch everything crumble, then move in. The next USA presidential election is going to have an impact on this and similar problems. November 9, 2016, may be the next day after the election and it will bring major changes.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Yes china will just invade any place the US army is not in. lol stop the propaganda please.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Its easy to see everything USA as good from its own perspective. Yes, Filipinos elected that guy. And proudly so. He curses, we know that, but in local dialect, unless a pronoun "ka" which means "you" is added to a curse, then it is not directed to a person but to the situation - the context is always uninteresting to reporters. He has terrible choice of words and approaches - understandably so as it needs great energy to shell-shock people who have been so used to corruption and crimes that they live like zombies not knowing what is right and wrong anymore. For the first time a Philippine president was able to say something about the colonial past and present neocolonialism of the US. Because to this day, most Americans only know the good that US brought; Education, political structure, what defense?? etc, - but are ignorant of the brutality that the US brought to the country and some still believe the Phil-American war never happened. For the first time, criminals are afraid again, for the first time cops found positive on drugs were expelled from duty, for the first time public officials, drug lord Governors, Mayors, celebrities are being prosecuted! 100+ government directors sacked in 1 day for failing to curve corruption, Duterte has 90% approval rate, call Filipinos fools? Have you lived there? Do you have an inkling of how terrible drugs, corruption and crime has ballooned out of the past administrations who did nothing but kiss US axx ? 600,000 drug users voluntarily surrendered in the first 3 months of the anti-drug campaign, for the first time 47 average daily deaths are not victims but the perpetrators! I dare each one of those who believe Duterte is out whack to live there in the Philippines, even for 3 months, live among the poor, live among the marginalized Moros of the South, live in the City and after living there, come back and tell everyone how stupid and wrong he is. But if you keep finding your facts from reading US news, I suggest a review on academic historical books (not written by an American) for better judgment. Look up Carnegie Melon, he knew better what to do with the "Philippine Islands", decades long alliance with the US to counter rebels and the NDF, MNLF, NPA , Abu Sayaff rebels are still there - it is only now that they hold real peace talks with the government . And about Trump getting the upper-hand over Clinton...well you tell me.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

I have a feeling Duterte is not going to be around as president for much longer.

Don't count on it. If he can get have drug dealers executed in the streets without bothering to arrest or charge them, he can do the same to those who might want to take his office from him. All he has to do is lie to the people, and promise to give them someone else's money, and they will keep voting for him, even if they get less and less money while he is in office. People ever want to believe a lie, which is something all politicians, including our own, know very well.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Were Americans gentle colonizers?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Don't count on it. If he can get have drug dealers executed in the streets without bothering to arrest or charge them, he can do the same to those who might want to take his office from him.

Yeah, but if he pisses off Americans too much, just remember that America also has a history of overthrowing democratically elected governments that don't stay in line. Duterte/Philippines could be the latest victims of that.

I'm not looking forward to China replacing the US

Don't worry, it won't happen because they don't want to be the policeman of the world.

Yes china will just invade any place the US army is not in. lol stop the propaganda please.

Remember the time when China invaded the Philippines when they removed the US forces in the 90s? LOL.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Have been in the Philippines for several weeks recently. Is extremely corrupt and dangerous. There is no legal system to speak of. If you have friends in the government you can get away with what you like.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Are the Mindanao special forces all white like his quote implies? Will Duterte let the darker hued troops stick around? See, there is always a work around--should be great news for the tanning salon owners.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Good Bye & Good Luck trying to make a pact with ISLAM -

1 ( +5 / -4 )

" blamed America for inflaming Muslim insurgencies in the region "

LOL, yeah right. Lets see how peaceful the Jihadis become when the US leaves. The guy demonstrates that cluelessness is not limited to Western politicians.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Bartholomew HarteSEP. 13, 2016 - 12:50PM JST Good Bye & Good Luck trying to make a pact with ISLAM -

Truly you dont know the difference between Islam and Terrorism. The Islamic South are Filipinos too, in fact they were there before Christianity stepped in. The Philippines is guided by a Constitution that embraces all, not for a single religion nor ideology.

LOL, yeah right. Lets see how peaceful the Jihadis become when the US leaves. The guy demonstrates that cluelessness is not limited to Western politicians.

The US Bases Subic and Clark were already booted out of the country by the power of the Philippine Senate, in 1991 that decision was again upheld. Twice booted out!! why does it keep coming back? The war with the Jihadists never materialized under any previous Phil president , it is only now with Duterte that a full scale troop deployment were sent to Sulu to finally destroy its stronghold. The Islamic Liberation Front and Moro Liberation rebels are even supporting the President in crushing these ISIS bandits. Who is clueless here?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@noriyosan73

The only way forward is to make peace now.

Trump is a bit nut's, but he "said" he would join Russia in the fight. Clinton will cause more wars.

America needs to pack up there cap and get out. Use sanctions if need be on China.

What will happen if China & Russia V America at sea? Looks more then likely the time bomb is already ticking and about to take place.

All i see without trump is war.

Big things like China not going punished will start a massive war. What would you do to punish them? or to stop the world economy from being destroyed or hurt?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

This guy's going to turn the place into another Venezuela, but worse when radical Islamists take over after he boots out the US.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

mukamo:

" The Islamic Liberation Front and Moro Liberation rebels are even supporting the President in crushing these ISIS bandits "

LOL! In the same way that Clintons "moderate vetted rebels" in Syria are fighting against ISIS, right? Please, buy my bridge in Brooklyn.

" Who is clueless here? "

The one who is asking.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

smithinjapanSEP. 13, 2016 - 03:27PM JST This guy's going to turn the place into another Venezuela, but worse when radical Islamists take over after he boots out the US.

Baseless speculation. As official records show, the Philippine Senate has booted out the US Bases in 1991, and continue to reaffirm that decision. The US kept coming back in the form of defense training and Mutual Defense treaties - recently called EDCA , the US wants bases to establish its own interest in fear of China's expansion. Duterte will turn Philippines to Venezuela?? The current Drug War has revealed that the Drug Cartels of China, Columbia and Mexico are already already there!!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I think this is a misleading article. They didn't even mention why he wants them out they cut the part where he said that " Americans, they will really kill them, they will try to kidnap them to get ransom" REASON: Because ABU SAYAF CONSIDER THEM HIGH VALUE TARGETS****

This only highlighted that he wants them out and what he said about what the americans did to 6,000 moro people. And how he attacked President Obama. TSK TSK. Get your news straight.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

WilliBSEP. 13, 2016 - 03:50PM JST mukamo: LOL! In the same way that Clintons "moderate vetted rebels" in Syria are fighting against ISIS, right? Please, buy my bridge in Brooklyn.

" Who is clueless here? "

The one who is asking.>

The Moro National Liberation Front , Moro Islamic Liberation Front (both Islamic South) and National Democratic Front (Communist) are political entities - they have armed divisions, fighting for a cause and are recognized and represented both locally and Internationally. They represent the marginalized Moros of the South and the poor peasants of the North. Previous administrations ignored their pleas and labelled them terrorist rebels. The current administration has given them the opportunity to finally seat and talk for peace. For the first time in Philippine history a ceasefire from all 3 political armed groups are in effect.. indefinitely. The Abu-Sayaf group however, is a splinter group of the MNDF, they lost their cause and way when they started kidnap for ransom activities - these bandits are the only recognized terrorist group in the country right now.

Now you know.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Let's just hope this isn't foreshadowing of the Americans making an equally foolish decision by putting Trump in power

Yes as well as the invalid

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This is what will happened if you base your news from other news. only Filipinos knows what their country`s problem is and so they elected this man...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I would say by this time next year, he will be nothing but a fleeting memory. This guy is unbelievable!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Many Philippines are decedent of Chinese. So are people in other SEAsia. US will protect from China campaign hasn't been wlrking

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well, if Philippine Government doesn't want American on its soil and then American should leave the Philippine. The Philippine was one of corrupted Countries in Asia and Philippine's Military was weakest Military in South East Asia. Philippine Army could not fight and finish even small Islamic terrorist group Abu Saya in South. Philippine will be defenseless if China has continuing invading to Philippine territorial Islands in South China Sea. I do understand about the President Rodrigo Duterte’s strong feeling against American Military present in Philippine and the crimes committed by American Special Force in the past. However, I don’t think it’s wise and right decision to cut relation with American Military present in Philippine at current South China Sea situation. He wants to satisfy and want to improve relationship with Communist China by removing small group of US Military. The question is why and what he expected from China. Also Duterte shouldn’t under estimate about whether US Government can still honor treaty with Philippine or not after he said American must get out from Philippine. Philippine Government should not expect help from US after he kicks out small group of US military’s training personal which helping to train Philippine soldiers.

One reason President Rodrigo Duterte doesn’t like is US Government poking its nose into internal affair and US Government’s criticizing about President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drug policy and human right in Philippine.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

South ... it has Japan creating railroad system. It preferred military weaponry Japan shipped.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Mukano:

" They represent the marginalized Moros of the South "

The "marginalized Moros" are an islamist group and are fighting for the same cause that all islamist groups fight for: the submission of the country and ultimately the world under islamic law. There is an ideology underlying all this. Tryi ng to ignore that in order to fit it into your worldview is wishful thinking.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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