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Comments

1. #1
   On July 14th, 2004 at 6:56 am, Athena said:

   http://rantingprofs.typepad.com

   This site also has a good analysis of the implications of the Philippines decision.

2. #2
   On July 14th, 2004 at 7:17 am, michelle as well said:

   Here here! I’m right there with you! I’m not a proponent of the Iraqi war (a moot point here); however, our parents’ homeland’s flimsy backbone is not only an embarrassment but renders a precedent of abdication to terrorists not soon to be forgotten by the world (of terrorists). Hay nako!

3. #3
   On July 14th, 2004 at 7:45 am, James Kotthoff said:

   It is sad! When will leaders and nations realize that when you give in to a terrorist’s demands it only encourages other acts of terrorism. My prayers go out to the family but my disdain goes out to the government of the Phillipines. But mostly I feel sorry for the future victims because the blame will be squarely on the head of their own government.

4. #4
   On July 14th, 2004 at 8:48 am, Chris said:

   well done michelle.

5. #5
   On July 14th, 2004 at 9:24 am, actus said:

   I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t want to be there in the first place.

6. #6
   On July 14th, 2004 at 10:04 am, Teresita Pena Dabrieo said:

   Thanks again Michelle for expressing so well the heartache that I, a proud American descended from warrior Pinay on both sides, have been feeling. I thought GM-A would show us how strong our culture and background have bred us to be, but no… it’s just another sad case of culturally allowing too many chiefs. and the capitualation and poverty of power that always follows.

   I really appreciate the article and sent it to all my cousins!
   You are Great!
   Teresita

7. #7
   On July 14th, 2004 at 10:09 am, Laurence Simon said:

   They may be pulling out 51 weekend-warrior soldiers, but think of the thousands of Filipino workers who made individual decisions to go there and work to reconstruct Iraq.

   You’ve got your servants, stockboys, waterbearers, plumber’s helpers, and sex workers… the pride of the Phillipines coming together to help the *real* rebuilders get the job done.

   I’m sure that some of those 51 will end up being pitted against Abu Sayyaf terrorists back home. Especially now that Abu Sayyaf has been given a green light to kidnap infidel Filipinos to further a political agenda.

8. #8
   On July 14th, 2004 at 10:22 am, Mad Mikey said:

   What do you bet that the terrorist scumbags take MORE Filipino hostages for concessions to the Islamic dorks in the souther Phillipines…?

   Watch for it….

9. #9
   On July 14th, 2004 at 10:25 am, Marc said:

   Hi Michelle great article, as is your norm.

   BTW You are taking a beating over at Sassy’s “House on a Hill” (http://houseonahill.net/index.php/weblog/comments/politics-and-the-pullout-of-pinoy-troops-in-iraq/)

   I think you should go over and defend yourself. She has linked your article at Town Hall and many of the commenters are taking a few potshots.

   Sassy claims after reading your piece that some people “are not expected to analyze events beyond the superficial level.”

10. #10
    On July 14th, 2004 at 10:36 am, Ari said:

    Michelle:

    Great column.

    I am reminded of hearing years ago that the Israelis would say Kaddish (the Jewish prayer for the dead) over hostages, not waiting for their execution, because they knew that giving in to the terrorists’ demands would only encourage more hostage taking. They would try to rescue the hostages, but were prepared for the deaths of their loved ones.

    The “mollycodling milksops of Manila” (great phrase) have increased the danger to Filipinos and Westerners in the Mideast, just as the Zapatero government in Spain has increased the dangers to democratic nations who fight the terrorists.

11. #11
    On July 14th, 2004 at 10:49 am, Museum Curator said:

    You just know the the Islamo Fascist thugs located in the Phillipines are licking their chops at the future prospects this decision opens up for them. The Philliphines will rue the day that they let the thugs win.

12. #12
    On July 14th, 2004 at 11:00 am, Museum Curator said:

    Oh wow, Michelle has two little kids, one an 8 month old and manages to do all she does, and appear on Laura Ingraham’s radio show! Wow,very impressive Michelle, you are even more talented than I thought! :0) More power to ya!

13. #13
    On July 14th, 2004 at 11:10 am, Buck said:

    I am dismayed by their decision. Too bad the whole war thing had more support in the country to begin with, then it might not have happened. Live by the coalition of the willing, die by the coalition of the willing.

    And yeah, I’m amazed at how Michelle can raise two kids, appear on a fellow hater’s radio show, and write nasty things about other people. Wow. And I thought the democrats were the only hateful people.

14. #14
    On July 14th, 2004 at 11:11 am, Kindred said:

    Is it worth a human life to have 50 humanitarian aid workers spend an extra 30 days in Iraq?

    The obvious counter-argument is that it will encourage future hostage-takers. Well so far nobody has yet given in to any hostage-takers in Iraq, and it hasn’t slowed down or discouraged them one bit.

15. #15
    On July 14th, 2004 at 11:28 am, Chris said:

    Kindred,

    As long as we are commenting on what is not quantifiable, I can counter your argument with this.

    The non-negotiating with terrorists is why they only take one here and two there and keep switching nationality to try to find one bunch of cowards willing to whimper and comply. Had negotiation been the tactic from the start they would have already kidnapped foriegners by the hundreds.

    I don’t know that is true anymore than you know that the accepted practice of non-negotiation has not slowed them down.

    But it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that when the stray dog comes to your house, if you feed it, it stays and if you don’t it moves on.

16. #16
    On July 14th, 2004 at 12:05 pm, Walter E. Wallis said:

    The Scouts I fought alongside in Korea would [or will be] weeping for their country. Marcos was a crook, but he was a man.

17. #17
    On July 14th, 2004 at 12:22 pm, GsOuPx said:

    Michelle and the other apologists for this inane Iraq policy just do not get it. We will not be the victims of the actions of the Phillipines. We are already hostage to the actions of our leaders whose vacuous policy has effectively isolated ANY combatant - national or individual - in the war on terror from any sense of moral legitimacy.

    Iraq was being dealt with effectively as is obvious from the fact that the regime was dispatched with relative ease and that there are no WMD’s - as UNSCOM told us back in 1997.

18. #18
    On July 14th, 2004 at 12:26 pm, Beck said:

    It seems almost surreal that people qualified to run a government can act so thoughtlessly. A large part of me keeps waiting to hear that it was all a ruse designed to save the guy’s life.

19. #19
    On July 14th, 2004 at 12:28 pm, GsOuPx said:

    Marc:

    >

    It was a superficial analysis. Michelle, like most right-wing journalists who dominate the media, have no interest in appealing to your intellect just your emotions.

20. #20
    On July 14th, 2004 at 1:03 pm, Digger said:

    Bravo Michelle,

    My poor wife (a Filipino) has been hearing an earful from me over the past few days about this spineless move by the lame PI government.

    Funny thing is she didn’t seem surprised, as if she knew all along that they were cowardly and we were stupid for even expecting them to stand up to anything.

    Sad.

21. #21
    On July 14th, 2004 at 1:06 pm, GsOuPx said:

    Digger:

    Bravo - man

    Brava - woman

    Unless you know something that we don’t…

22. #22
    On July 14th, 2004 at 1:29 pm, Ka Edong (del Rosario) said:

    Tagalog for weasel? Try “duwag” or “takot” or “supot” or “walang b_y_g”.

    During the early 1900s, General Pershing’s soldiers sang this ditty: “Oh the monkeys have no tails in far Zamboanga” (Zamboanga is a province in southern Philippines which is Abu Sayaff country). A century hence, Pres. GMA is re-popularizing it.

23. #23
    On July 14th, 2004 at 2:14 pm, Digital Machete said:

    The Misleader is going to have to stop running around simplistically claiming that America is safer from Saddam Hussein’s WMD “capability” because of the war on Iraq since, as Ms. Malkin warns, we’ll ALL be paying a “grisly” price for this stunning act of cowardice!

    Perhaps the president’s writers will have him explain that we’re safer from the WMD capability and ambition but still at risk because of the weakness of the Filipino government even though we’re still winning the War on Terror in spite of al-Qaeda’s plans to attack us this summer and the bottom line is that we’re TheWorld’sOnlySuperpower and we don’t really need any help from other countries or the UN so the Filipino capitulation, while annoying, will not hinder our efforts to defeat the Evildoers and their Evil plots and bring freedom and democracy to all of humanity even though there is talk here of postponing our election because of a potential Evil attack designed to turn us into the kind of cheese eating surrender monkeys who are actually aiding and abetting the terrorists we’re beating!

    Still, I think each of us had better conduct an inventory on our duct tape supply.

    And boycott all products from the Philippines!

24. #24
    On July 14th, 2004 at 2:25 pm, Digger said:

    I’m thinking his writers wouldn’t make such a run on sentence.

    While supporting GWB I will admit he’d have a hell of time saying all of that at once.

25. #25
    On July 14th, 2004 at 4:13 pm, TimTam said:

    GsOuPx:

    It’s Philippines

    Carry on.

26. #26
    On July 14th, 2004 at 4:21 pm, Barry said:

    Well, I can hardly blame them; the Administration’s handling of the Iraq situation has led even Donald Trump to declare that he would “fire” Bush. If a Capitalist Roader like “The Donald” is of this opinion then there must be something to it. Trump also points out that at 6′ 6″ Osama should be easy to find. Has the Admin even tried? Something to think about.

27. #27
    On July 14th, 2004 at 5:08 pm, SQUADRON said:

    Well now, I suppose we should pull our Marines out of the Southern Philippines and let the Filpino military take care of their little mess down there themselves.

    I am sick and tired of helping people that do nothing but stab us in the back the first chance they get.

    Similar to the base closures a few years back. Olongopo City went down the toilet (that’s saying alot for that part of the world) when they closed Subic Bay.

    I say we curtail economic aid and the foreign worker program while we’re at it.

    I agree with Walter. Marcos was a THUG. But at least he had a pair.

    K/H D

28. #28
    On July 14th, 2004 at 5:19 pm, John H. Schneider II said:

    I see that the terrorists supporters and appeasers are attacking Michelle here on her own website.

    It’s interesting to note historically that those who support or appease the bad guys are among the first that the bad guys kill once they take power. Why is that? Because they know that anyone who helped bring down their own government will be among the first to fight against them from the inside once they start committing their atrocities.

    Michelle is exactly right on this. The Philippine government is sending a clear message to the terrorists - they’ll cave at the slightest pressure. Not only is this bad for any of their people living overseas, but it will eventually bring the war to their own doorstep.

    Then comes the begging the USA to get them out of the trouble they didn’t have to get into in the first place.

    John H. Schneider II

29. #29
    On July 14th, 2004 at 6:13 pm, Wil Cruz said:

    It’s so pitiful that my homeland not only lost it’s courage,it also lost all it’s allies in it’s war against muslim extremism because of my country’s cowardly retreat against terrorism.Mrs Arroyo and her Administration should start practicing on how to beg on their knees,it’s the only thing that they know how to do.

30. #30
    On July 14th, 2004 at 6:44 pm, athena said:

    Thank you, Michelle. You have fluently articulated what my husband and I feel about the big mouths who know nothing about war and terrorism. Unfortunately, there are just a few of us who are so passionately against the fetid thinking of the so-called “masa”. Still, we applaud your bravura and fearless stance.

31. #31
    On July 15th, 2004 at 12:15 am, JWL said:

    Being of Russian descent, I know what it’s like to have the country from which your family came being on the wrong side in the war on terror. But I don’t feel too bad about it, because I am an American, not a Russian.

    GsOuPx says that right-wingers dominate the media and that we use emotional arguments? I think he has us confused with left-wing. What argument is there for negotiating with terrorists other than an emotional one? And I would hardly call Fox News Channel, WABC radio, and Townhall.com dominant in the media.

    Oh well. Keep up the good work, Michelle!

32. #32
    On July 15th, 2004 at 4:51 am, lorimer said:

    I am Filipino.

    There are 150,000 American troops in Iraq and these Islamic Iraqi bastards holding my countryman hostage cannot be located?

    If Iraq were geographically near my country, our soldiers, the finest and the bravest war machines in the world, would have combed the whole of Baghdad to find dela Cruz and behead all his f***ing coward captors, similar to what they did to Berg and the S. Korean, even to the detriment of the safety of dela Cruz himself.

    So please, you Americans and Americanized Pinoys, please don’t call Filipinos names.

33. #33
    On July 15th, 2004 at 6:33 am, Franco said:

    http://houseonahill.net/index.php/weblog/comments/politics-and-the-pullout-of-pinoy-troops-in-iraq/

34. #34
    On July 15th, 2004 at 10:34 am, Dodie C. Banzuela said:

    While I salute the frakness of your article, as well as those of your readers, regarding GMA’s decision to save the life of Angelo de la Cruz (a just one Pinoy representing the millions of agrieve kababayans for more than a century after getting the fake independence from Spain and America), I would say: you still don’t know the true culture of the Filipinos: that life is still sacred to us…We may be dying of poverty and hunger because of the corruption of our government officials, but still, we value to live and hope to see the new bright of freedom: freedom from hunger, want, greed and selfishness…we simply believe that while others wants to be high and might, we believe otherwise…that God is the supreme creator. Sa ating mga kababayan na matagal na ring naninirahan diyan sa Amerika, sana’y huwag ninyong kalimutan na kahit na ganoon ang naging desisyon ni GMA, nakabatay iyon sa kagustuhan ng sangkatutak ninyong kabaayang mahihirap na napakasimple pa rin ang adhikain sa buhay…na sa likod ng kahirapan ay ang pagsasama-sama ng pamilya.
    Hopefully Michelle, you’ll find time to visit again your roots and stay here for even a month or two so you can have a first hand info on what I am saying about the Pinoy’s culture.

35. #35
    On July 15th, 2004 at 11:36 am, Marc said:

    Squadron

    You are in a dream world with this statement:

    “Similar to the base closures a few years back. Olongopo City went down the toilet (that’s saying alot for that part of the world) when they closed Subic Bay.”

    Would you care to back that up with a couple links or resources?

    Here are the facts from a retired US Navy vet who first visited Subic in July 1981 and have been living approx 100 kilometers from its front gate since 2001.

    FEDEX has its Asian cargo shipment hub at Subic it employs approx 50% of what the former Navy base did. Total employment on base is approx 140% above the highest ever attained by the US Navy.

    The city of Olongopo is clean, free of ALL the Girlie bars and the streets are safe. In short it is a rousing success without the US Navy.

    I’ll not hold my breath waiting for your retort.

36. #36
    On July 15th, 2004 at 11:41 am, Marc said:

    Excuse me Lorimar;

    What dream world are you living in? Your “crack” members of the AFP allowed many members of the Abu Sayyaf “escape” after a little money changed hands.

    Not to mention all the JI members that the MILF is training but can’t be located by the AFP.

    Oh I almost forgot, what about the NPA members that have been holding hostage two members of your “crack” armed forces (army if memory serves) since March 1st.

    PLEASE……

37. #37
    On July 15th, 2004 at 11:55 am, lorimer said:

    ‘Yan ang hirap sa iba sa ‘tin, Marc, e. Lumaki lang ng konti sa Amerika, akala mo mas magaling pa sa mga Amerikano. Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan hindi makakarating sa paroroonan, di ba?

    Excuse me, too, Marc, but you sound like a Pinoy to me.

38. #38
    On July 15th, 2004 at 12:07 pm, allen said:

    i hope the u.s. would just get the hell out of iraq.

    through this war, they actually made terorists out of some ordinary iraqis where there was none before.

39. #39
    On July 15th, 2004 at 12:12 pm, allen said:

    ka edong:

    one characteristic of duwag -supot-walang bayag is that they usually don’t pick their own size.

40. #40
    On July 15th, 2004 at 12:29 pm, chayu said:

    There used to be a saying “Proud to be Filipino” now with GMA submitting to terroist demands puts the one million plus OCW from the Philippines in grave danger.

    “Even now Abu Sayyaf, al Qaeda-linked Muslim extremists fighting for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines, beheaded two men abducted from the remote …” he must be celebrating now and contemplating who he will kidnap next and threaten to behead next to gain victory. Sad days ahead now for the what are left of the “Proud to be Filipino”.

41. #41
    On July 15th, 2004 at 12:42 pm, Tina Dante said:

    Michelle,

    Always enjoy your commentaries on Fox News, but was particularly interested in your take on the “caving-in” of the Phillipines Government. Peter Brookes recently wrote an OpEd piece for today’s NY Post, and he turned me onto your article yesterday, as I indicated to him that I was interested in knowing what your thoughts were, as a Filipino-American.

    While it is terrifying for the family of de la Cruz, it is more terrifying for what is about to become of the Phillipines and its people. I pray for your heritage nation.

    Regards,
    Tina Dante

42. #42
    On July 15th, 2004 at 1:58 pm, Miel said:

    It appears that GMA made a calculated political decision based on her perception of domestic public opinion. To be fair, that is her right as head of state and (even if you don’t agree with it) the decision is defensible - life of an innocent saved, domestic political benefit, etc.

    However, this clearly gives the terrorists a propaganda victory and will almost certainly increase the danger to other innocents. *That* is a big problem for the Philippines, as well as individual Filipinos.

    The Philippines risks damage to its reputation and other diplomatic consequences. And who do you think is more likely to be the target of the next kidnapping? Another South Korean, whose government not only refused to withdraw its troops but promised to send in 3,000 more? Another Bulgarian, whose government flatly rejected withdrawing its troops? Or another Filipino?

43. #43
    On July 15th, 2004 at 4:05 pm, dQm said:

    Please! Won’t somebody think of the children?!

44. #44
    On July 15th, 2004 at 9:30 pm, Wil Cruz said:

    Marc
    Let me tell you something,when the US Navy left Subic Naval base in 92 or even before that time,then Mayor Richard Gordon ask the Philippine government,the Catholic Church and the Left if they have any plans for the conversion of the big sprawling US base,none of them can give an honest workable or even a realistic answer.Mr Gordon and the people of Olangapo were the ones that made their own miracle and Mr Gordon went out to sell the vacant Naval base for use by international companies .I was there Marc, when the Leftist was rejoicing the rejection of the US base treaty by the Senate and their mute answer when asked for an economic solution to replace the money coming out from those bases.

45. #45
    On July 15th, 2004 at 9:59 pm, Wil Cruz said:

    Dodie
    Kaming mga Filipino sa Amerika ay hindi bulag at bingi sa nangyayari sa Pilipinas,simula sa internet o sa pagbisita namin diyan, o kaya sa tawagan namin sa amin mga mahal sa buhay,nababalitaan namin ang mga pangyayari diyan.Alam namin kung sino kami kahit me green card or pasaporte ng Amerika,hindi pa rin namin nakakalimutan kung saan kami nag mula.Ang problema natin ay ito,an pagiisip natin ay para lamang sa ngayon at bahala na ang kinabukasan.Sa tingin mo ba,titigilan ba tayo ng mga terrorista o hihingi pa ng iba. Laki kami diyan Dodie,kabisado namin ang masamang ugali ng mga Pinoy,alam rin namin ang mga magandang kaugalian ng atin mga kababayan.Ang problema ,ang palaging umiiral ay ang masama at hindi mabuti.

46. #46
    On July 15th, 2004 at 10:44 pm, Tom the Redhunter said:

    Michelle, your column rocks.

    I hadn’t realized how far they had caved until I read it and did some more research. Now I’m really appalled.

    I’ve also noticed the trolls who’ve started commenting. I’ll only say that hopefully they’ll learn something if they continue reading your columns. But hope springs eternal.

47. #47
    On July 16th, 2004 at 2:43 am, SQUADRON said:

    Marc,

    No need to hold your breath I’ll retort to:

    Squadron

    “You are in a dream world with this statement:

    “Similar to the base closures a few years back. Olongopo City went down the toilet (that’s saying alot for that part of the world) when they closed Subic Bay.”

    Would you care to back that up with a couple links or resources?”

    Don’t need resources. Don’t need links. I was there most recently 1998 and again in 2002. Walking into the VFW and seeing a bunch of expats wearing the same grey pallor on their faces sitting around playing “Blackout Bingo” for P200 sure doesn’t seem like the kind of lifestyle I was hoping to partake in upon my retirement from the Navy. (In 137 days and a wakeup but who’s counting?)

    “Here are the facts from a retired US Navy vet who first visited Subic in July 1981 and have been living approx 100 kilometers from its front gate since 2001.”

    I too first visited Subic Bay in November of 1981. The ultimate “Adult Disneyland.” Good, bad or indifferent to the morality of the thing they had you absolutely have to admit that more than just the crooked polititians, (Mayor Gordon comes to mind.) made a living. And a better one than a goodly many people in that nation. at that.

    “FEDEX has its Asian cargo shipment hub at Subic it employs approx 50% of what the former Navy base did. Total employment on base is approx 140% above the highest ever attained by the US Navy.”

    Good for FEDEX. At least someone put it to “some kind” of use. I find your 140% employment number highly questionable but I’ll take your word for since you live there. But you DO fail to take into acount of the tens of thousands of US Military people living not only on base but also in the local communities that also worked onboard and provided tax revenue along with their dollars. (Not to mention the “Rent” the Navy paid.)

    “The city of Olongopo is clean, free of ALL the Girlie bars and the streets are safe. In short it is a rousing success without the US Navy.”

    Once again, “If you say so”. Surely not as many of either but, I saw a few streetwalkers and more than a few beggers when I was last there myself. Sorry to see there is no club for the streetwalkers to look to for health issues now. They have to pay for that on their own, and not many to buy the gum.

    All that said, both of the times I was there I never saw a ship in the harbor (not one) or a forsome on the golf course. There were two cars in the parking lot of the “GoCart” track but no carts actually out on the course. We went to the “Duty Free” and there were more employees than customers. Including my tribe of six at the time. (That’s not completely surprising though. I did take note though that each and ever one of them looked miserable. One would think they’d be happy with such a good gig.) Sure the Officer housing over at Cubi Point was full but my guess is that they were filled within a week of the pullout. As YOU know, quality housing is always a premium there.

    When an Aircraft Carrier Battle Group pulled in there they pumped a Million Dollars a Day inot the local economy. (Yes I said a million $AMERICAN$ dollars) I seriously doubt that the few and far between Russian or Chinese hulks that roll in there can pull that off.

    Our ships visit Manila now. Once in a great while one goes to Subic but everyone I’ve spoken to all said they wished they’d have gone to Manila or Cebu. Barrio Baretto just doesn’t seem to do the trick.

    I had orders to San Miguel when Mt. Pinatubo went up and was only two weeks out. In fact I was on leave between commands when my orders were canceled so I lost out on that one. Nobody outside the Philippines was sadder than me. I’ve spent enough time over there to know what I like and don’t like about the place.

    I had always had my heart set on taking my retirement benefits and moving over there to raise my children in their mother’s homeland where the good things make the bad ones more than a little acceptable. But this latest move by the government shows me that I and my family stand a risk we are not willing to take in today’s world and could never feel safe there now.

    Yesterday I sold the house I own there to a guy that has wanted to buy it for quite some time. (Lucky me huh? I’ll take that money and a job in Colorado instead.) Both myself and my wife have agreed that we will never step foot in that country again. What a shame Lolo and Lola are now unable to visit with their grandsons unless we can manage to get them over here.

    But if you’re happy “Marc”, knowing that the “Nice People Around” will soon be replace by even “Nicer” people then good on ya bud. I would never wish bad on anybody but, “ya makes your bed, ya sleeps in it”. Call me a “whimp” if you like. But my eyes are open to today’s world. Keeping your head in the sand not only hurts you but those that depend on you. Good luck to you and yours and enjoy paradise while you can.

    K/H D

48. #48
    On July 16th, 2004 at 2:50 am, Chayu said:

    Filipino defense department officials refused to comment on the withdrawal of the head of the contingent, Brigadier General Jovito Palparan or the rest of the team.

    The Philippines’ decision to pull out of Iraq has disappointed the country’s foreign allies. Both the United States and Australia have warned the action will only encourage militants.

    The White House scolded the Philippines Thursday for seemingly giving in to the kidnappers’ demands, saying the move sent “the wrong signal to terrorists.”

    Asked at a press forum late Thursday about de la Cruz, military chief General Narciso Abaya refused to comment, bluntly replying: “I don’t want to lose my job.”

    GMA must now realize in her lacking of experience with terrorism “You cannot negotiate with terrorists or make a separate peace with terrorists.

    The Philippines is one of the most Christian countries in the world yet some leaders appear to forget the 23rd Psalm “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;…”
    There are many heros in the Philippines past history and now…

    Why forsake our freedom fighters of the past???

    I say no more…

49. #49
    On July 16th, 2004 at 11:29 am, allen said:

    wil cruz:

    alam mo rin siguro kung saan nagsimula lahat ng ito ano? simpatiya nga halos lahat ng tao sa u.s. dahil sa 9/11, pero unti-unting nawala yun dahil sa iraq war. mali lahat ng pretext sa giyera na ito, sabi nga ng senate intel. committee nyo. kaya mabuti pang isalba ang isang buhay kesa makisama sa isang giyera na mali. kung tutuusin lang sana nating mabuti kung tama ang giyera na ito o hindi, malalaman natin kung bakit mas pinili pa ng sambayanang pilipino ang isang buhay kesa sa coalition (hindi si gma ang nag decide - napilitan lang siya.) handa kami sa people power 4 kung ipagpapalit niya ang isang OFW - tinuturing nga na “bagong bayani” kesa sa isang maling giyera.

    sa sinasabing consequences ng pull-out, e di mag pull-out na nga kayo lahat. tutal mali naman ang lahat ng pretext para sa giyera na ito. may malulugi ba kapag ginawa ito? yan ang problema, parang pilipinas din pala. global nga lang ang dating

50. #50
    On July 16th, 2004 at 6:52 pm, Wil Cruz said:

    Allen,
    Madaling magsalita dahil akala mo maliit na bagay lang ito,ang amerika ay hindi katulad ng Europa na humahanap ng simpatiya sa mundo,alam nila kung ano ang dapat gawin para hindi na maulit ang trahedya na nangyari sa NY.Linusod nila ang Afghanistan at pinatakbo nila anq mga terrorista at pinatay o binihag nila ang mga iba.Sa Iraq,nakita nila ang problema,dahil alam nila na ang mga terrorista ay naghahanap ng WMD at ang Iraq lamang ang magbibigay ng tulong sa kanila na para makaganti sila sa Estados Unidos .
    Lumusob at nanalo ang US coalition sa Iraq pero wala silang makita WMD,pero meron evidensiya na naunahan na sila ni Saddam,ngayon lang paunti-unti na lumalabas ang estorya na meron palang WMD program si Saddam at meron siyang kommunikasyon sa mga terrorista .Ang problema lamang ,ang naniniwala lamang ay ang mga pro war, mga Iraqis at ang nakakatuwa ang mga Iranians at mga Kuwaitis.Bakit kaya?Meron ba silang mas alam sa ating lahat .
    Allen,Meron isinulat na tula si Kipling sa dating kaugalian ng mga hari ng englateria,ang tula ay Danegeld,basahin mo at unawaiin mo.Dahil ang bansa natin ay walang lakas na loob na magpakita ng tapang kundi sa magbayad ng danegeld sa mga terrorista sa Mindanao.Balang araw,ang pagtiwala niyo sa Edsa ay masusubukan dahil ang tutuong kalaban niyo,natin lahat ay lilitaw,ang tanong ko sa iyo,handa ka bang isakripiyo ang buhay mo at ang mga mahal mo sa buhay para sa kalayaan ng ating bansa .Nasa Mindanao na ang kalaban dahil bulag kayo sa katotohanan,na hindi amerikano ang kalaban niyo,ang kalaban natin ay mga radikal na muslim.ihanda mo na ang sarili mo,dahil ang susunod na laban kung magmangmagan kayo ay sa iyong tirahan,hindi sila titigil hanggang maging katulad niyo sila.Iyan ang ilagay mo sa utak mo.

51. #51
    On July 16th, 2004 at 9:10 pm, Chayu said:

    If countries cave in to terrorists’ demands then that only encourages the terrorists to become more strident and more aggressive towards other countries, as well as that country itself.

52. #52
    On July 17th, 2004 at 8:38 am, allen said:

    wil cruz:

    sang-ayon ako sa giyera sa afghanistan dahil nandoon nga si osama. bakit ba pinupuntirya agad yung pinaniniwalaang susunod na kalaban - e hindi pa nga tapos yung una at tunay na kalaban na siya namang may kagagawan ng 9/11. baka naman kasi meron talagang ibang agenda. yung WMD, di naman natuklasan ngayon lang na merong programa si Saddam. Noong 1991 alam na meron at pinatigil na. Inaalam na lang ngayon kung itinuloy pa ulit. Base sa Senate Intel Comm. ninyo, walang basehan ang CIA para sabihing itinuloy ito. Base rin sa report na ito, nag contact nga ang gobyerno ni Saddam at al-Qaida pero walang relationship na nabuo:

    ” Conclusion #93: The Central Intelligence Agency reasonably assessed that there were likely several instances of contacts between Iraq and al-Qaida throughout the 1990’s but that these contacts did not add up to an established formal relationship.”

    Malinaw naman ang mga konklusyon ng Senate Report. Malinaw din ang mga ulat ni Hans Blix bago pa man giyerahin ang Iraq. Mali lahat ang ginamit na pretext sa UN Resolution, mali rin ang ginamit na dahilan sa US Congress nyo para i authorize ang giyera. Base dito, mas mabuti nga na itaguyod ang isang buhay kesa itaguyod ang maling giyera. Don’t get me wrong, sang-ayon ako sa war on teror pero hindi sa Iraq War. Si Osama muna dapat ang pinag-ukulan ng atensyon at resources.

    at hindi rin ako sumasang-ayon sa method ng mga terorista - ke malaking bansa siya o individual na terorista. basta isinali mo at tinarget ang civilian, mali na yun. pwede kang magbilang kung sino ang mas maraming nabiktimang civilians.

    hindi namin itinuturing na kalaban ang U.S. Tinututulan ko lang ang Iraq War. 2 magkaibang bagay yun. E yan ngang kapitbahay nyong Canada ni hindi nga nagpadala ng kahit isang sundalo dahil sa conviction nila, e di kaaway na rin sila? Wag sana tayong masyadong magpadala sa taktika ng inyong pamahalaan. “If you’re not with us, you are against us..” Masyadong simplistic. Parang may konting deception di ba. “Between the word of a madman and defending the country..” Sus, e di sana word of Hans Blix man lang sana pinakinggan niya.

    Basahin mo rin yung nilalaman ng Senate Intel Report nyo kahit yung mga conclusions na lang. Mas maliliwanagan tayo. At ulitin mong basahin yung isa pang gawa ng paborito mo yatang manunulat- White Man’s Burden. Sana hindi ganyan ang pananaw mo sa amin dahil lamang nandyan ka. Masyado kasing condescending and dating ng mga may burden na yan. Luma ng pananaw yan.

53. #53
    On July 17th, 2004 at 9:12 am, Dodie C. Banzuela said:

    Kay Wil Cruz: Salamat. Hope mabasa mo ‘yung e-mail ko sa ‘yo. Madaling sabihing naduwag kapag umatras ang isang paa sa labanang hindi naman talaga sa kanya ang laban. Filipinos have been called by names coz of Angelo de la Cruz’s incident: little monkeys, etc. The Spaniards called us thieves when Lapu-lapu and his men fought for freedom. Joma, Ka Roger & other Filipino brothers who are still in the mountains fighting for national democracy are being labeled (no thanks to Bush) as terrorists. Sa isang banda, are Bush and his associates still using the American’s film entitled Collateral Damage?…this time, err, oftentimes, ang victim ay mga kawawang Pinoy dahilan lamang sa giyera sa Spain, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan and now Iraq? Ano pa ang giyerang nasa agenda ni Bush na muli’t muli’y idadamay ang mga Pinoy na muli’t muli’y parang mga pulubi ang war veterans sa pag-aamot ng biyaya? Alam mo ba kabayan na ang isang general jovito palparan (noticed the used of small caps?) na siyang pinuno ng humanitarian troops kuno ay itinuturing na berdugo? Siya ang commanding officer at tinutukoy na mastermind sa walang awang pagpatay sa dalawa nating kababayan, Eden Marcellana at Eddie Lumanoy? Dalawang Pilipino na isinugal na ang buhay sa paghahanap ng tunay na kalayaan at demokrasya sa ating bansa. What a twist of fate. Palparan in Iraq as head of humanitarian mission, samantalang ditto mismo sa kanyang bansa’y itinuturing siyang isang berdugo at malupit na kaaway ng kanyang kapuwa Pilipino. Emotional ang Pilipino, alam mo ‘yan, Wil. At ang emotional na damdaming iyan ang naging tuntungan ni GMA upang sabihin kay Bush na, “Oo darleng, kung saan ka masaya, suporta kata.” Tamo naman ang resulta, si GMA pa rin ang presidente natin ngayon. Bumabawi lamang si GMA sa paggamit ng kanyang emotion, and this time intended sa kanyang kabalen na nabibingit ang ulo sa kamay ng dayuhan. Hindi iyon dapat ipagkait, kasi, baka pagdating ng panahon sa pagharap ni GMA sa Kanya ay hindi niya masagot ang tanong na: Bakit hindi mo iniligtas ang buhay ni Angelo? Ano pa rin ang bottomline? Kahit na sabihing maraming Pinoy ang may masamang ugali’y dumarating sa kanila ang sandaling itinataas na nila sa Kanya ang tamang kasagutan sa kanilang suliranin…ito man ay kung ano ang tatama sa lotto o jueteng, iboboto sa senado at kongreso o “simpleng” people power.
    Kay Allen: Salamat kasama sa pananaw. Tulad ng paanyaya ko kay Wil, inaanyayahan kitang maging isang mabuting kaibigan kahit man lamang sa pamamagitan ng electronic mail…isang click mo lang sa pangalan ko’y malalaman mo na ang e-mail address ko. Anuman ang pananaw natin sa bawat usapin, nawa’y hindi ito maging daan ng tuluyang paghihiwalay ng ating lahi…naniniwala ako na para lamang tayong mga nagsanga-sangang maliliit na ilog at batis, may mababaw, may malalim, may matining at may mabilis, na lalaon bagay sa dako pa roon ng kanyang pag-anod ay magsasama-sama sa isang malaking karagatan.
    Kasihan kayo, Wil and Allen, ng Poong Maykapal. And thank you very much Michelle for giving us this precious space to interact. I know you love adobo. Mabuhay ka, kabayan. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.