US eyes greater military clout in Asia following tsunami tragedy

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The massive US-led relief operation in tsunami-hit Asia is expected to give the American military greater clout in the region and bolster counterterrorism efforts, analysts say. Backed by an array of US warships, planes and helicopters, more than 13,000 US military personnel have been dispatched to help Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka, the countries most affected by the December 26 disaster.

Conducting its largest operation in Asia since the Vietnam War, the US military could remain in the region for up to six months, analysts said here Tuesday.

(snip)

US forces are also using Thailand's Vietnam war-era air base of Utapao as an airlift hub for the humanitarian mission in the region, strengthening potential US military logistical support throughout southeast Asia.

more

- - -

This is not part of the original article, but related:

One critic observes that the neo-cons could be viewing the tsunami aftermath as a “window of opportunity" for bolstering the Pentagon’s presence in Southeast Asia. The Thai people reject the proposed build-up of the American military at Utapao air base and in the Gulf of Thailand.

"The emergency relief operations appear to provide a windfall opportunity for beefing up the American military presence in Southeast Asia, part of the expanding Pentagon strategy of "forward positioning,"establishing sites, so-called "air cargo hubs,"where American forces can stash equipment and enter and leave as desired."

more at mediachannel.org

[saltpoint]

1. JUST what that tragedy-wracked area needs now, too --

-- increased U.S. military presence.

[okieinpain]

2. man, I guess that's just what jesus would want. use a tragedy to

push your agenda. yeah that's going to help make friends.

[izzie]

13. Well we are still in most of the WW2 countries.

Interesting that Ike, with his army, seemed OK but this time it does not seem the same. I would say that the world has moved on in how it thinks and just what they are doing once they get into these countries. Our trouble is we wish to think like it is just after WW2 and the rest of the world has moved on. Places like Indonesia is not ruled by the Dutch any more.

[aikido15]

3. I knew this was coming...

Bolster counterterrorism...right, more like Indonesia has oil, lots of it!

[aikido15]

4. I hate them...really...this is sick

I knew old Wolfie and Cheney starting drooling at the thought of raping them of their natural resources, oil that is, black gold, texas tea..and they are the Beverly Hillbillies..what a joke!

[Just Me]

22. Me, too. This tragedy had to be taken advantage of by PNACers!!!

The tsunami simply opened another door of opportunity for the imperialists.

[SweetLeftFoot]

26. Indonesia

has always been a US asset. No need to beef things up there. See Suharto/Sukarno/Kissinger/the deaths of millions in the 60's/

[Journeyman]

5. And there were some on this board who wondered why India. . .

is doing its damndest to keep the US out of their sphere of influence during this disaster, and this despite India's great need for financial and logistical support.

[Bhaisahab]

9. India has welcomed NON govt western aid

a very wise decision. only abject fools and musharraf across the border believe in american intentions.

[Journeyman]

10. I was unaware of their acceptance of NGO aid. . .

It adds even more poignancy to their rejection of outside military-associated aid.

[izzie]

15. I think it is India does have the way to do it and this---

it wishes to be a world class power with out 'ruler' from the out side. If I re-call my history. England was in India before it was in No. Am. It must have 400 years of history in that country. White army from over seas must have left a bad feeling to them when they seem to be cleaning up their mess very well.

[SweetLeftFoot]

27. India

has no need to for logistical support. India is actually providing large amounts of support to Sri Lanka. Sorry to rain on your parade, but I just thinkwe should focus our attention on the REAl dastardly actions of the neo-cons, not red herrings like this.

[Leilani]

6. This story is from The Turkish Press

are they a reliable source?

Military people I heard on TV tonite said we are stretched so thin, the relief operation is an additional strain.

[MisterP]

41. AFP, actually--French new agency, quite good

[punpirate]

7. "Massive US-led relief operation?"

My guess is that all of those 13,000 troops have yet to arrive. We get a description of a few helicopter operations, and suddenly, the US is the leader in the operation. Bush initially dismissed this as petty, suggesting first $15 million in aid, then $35 million, and only coughed up $350 million (notice the arbitrary multiplication) after Japan committed $500 million and troops for assistance.

Why is it that our leaders continue to see human tragedy as a commercial and military opportunity? Perhaps it's why most of the rest of the world is suspicious of us. *sigh*

[OneBlueSky]

8. someone once told me that the Chinese character for "crisis" is . . .

identical to the character for "opportunity" . . . seems that BushCo is using this tragedy to further it's nefarious geopolitical ends . . .

behind every instance of "compassionate conservatism" lurks a hidden agenda that is not healthy for children and other living things . . .

[LynnTheDem]

11. Oh for fuck's sake!!!

Jebus fucking Cripes already!!!

Can't we even JUST ONCE do something NICE without stings attached and thoughts PUBLICLY SPOKEN about how this could BENEFIT US????

JUST ONCE????!!!

[izzie]

18. We did the Marshall Plan with a reason you know.

I think what has changed is our place in the world next to the rest of the world. Nothing just stays the same. This is not 1900 or 1940 and we have to move on along with the rest of the world. I keep hearing what we did then and it is not the same. I think this is a good thing. Helping people who need help but it can not be just like 1940's. People have just moved on.We seemed to have left our mark on the world with what we stood for not with just an army. Russia, Japan had an army but did not leave one thing most people wished to bring into their lives to use.Even England when it left countries left their laws.

[jmcgowanjm]

34. Marsall Plan Reason:To keep Europe from going Communist

BTW-the European banks pulled out
as much money from Europe
as the MP put in.

[eric144]

45. Marshall plan was a scam

Chomsky called it a multi billion contribution to American corporations which allowed them to establish themselves in Europe like a business colonial power.

Speaking as someone from the UK, I wouldn't have let one of them into this country, not one. IBM for example, used gangster business tactics to destroy the British computer industry. That was the start of global corporations and globalisation ending up with children today making $100 Nike shoes for $1 a day.

I am reasonably convinced that was always envisaged as the result of the USA joining WWII.

[Chimpeach]

37. You said ...

"without stings attached" -- how appropriate.

The answer is no....we are opportunists.

[NorthernSpy]

12. are people ever just _nice_ -- period?

Yup, the "nicer" they are, the more they're playing some angle. :eyes:

And people wonder why those tribesmen shot arrows at the Indian Coast Guard aid helicopter.

[malaise]

14. Is anyone

really surprised?

[jmcgowanjm]

35. Grab everything and duck-elementary aphorism

How, then, do our ledgers read? America has a surplus of
power to protect vital interests. But with allies alienated
and forces stretched, she does not have the power to maintain
a Pax Americana or carry out the promiscuous
commitments made by President Bush in his first term, as
his second shall almost surely
demonstrate.

Pat Buchanan

http://www.antiwar.com/pat/?articleid=4249

[neweurope]

16. It was to be expected. God how I hate them. Anybody still wonders

why India refused to let them in?

on edit: So this is why the US are givig more money now - 500 million instead of 15/35 mllion? For "forward positioning,"establishing sites... Well now we understand. The world will love you.





.........Europe at noon today - that's one hour and ten minutes from now - has 3 minutes of silence for tsunami victims; the whole public life coming to a halt. If you care to join us...?

-----------------------



Remember Fallujah!

Bush to The Hague

[zann725]

17. Some of us bloggers attempted to discuss it last week,

and got branded as 'tin-foil' by that NYT article yesterday. To many of us last week, the fast-growing presence of our Military in the Tsumani area was "saying" more than just Emergency Relief. India 'saw' that, and refused our assistance.

And yeah it IS quite a "wind-fall"/"miracle" for Bushco's globalization plan. And if 'timing in life' is everything...this couldn't have had better timing for Shrubs new 2nd term. It even occurred during Holiday Break, so he had extra time to focus on planning his 'response.' But I'm sure it's all coincidental...

[jimshoes]

24. Seems to me that

as soon as the RW starts flinging the old CT dodge around, someone has hit close to home and they are trying to deflect. IMHO.

[gorbal]

39. That would make a lot of sense.

I have been getting alot of e-mails from people I don't know lately.

Perhaps that WAS the reason for the article. Nip everything in the bud by making a mockery of those who question. It is a common enough tactic.
However, we have enough ammunition in terms of what people CAN believe, so there is no sense in pushing ideas that are to complicated for the average sitcom-raised american to comprehend.

These days though, I hate to say it, but your either a paranoid or your a shmuck, I dont think there is any middle ground. Me? I become a shmuck when I am tired of being paranoid, it just makes life a bit more livable.

:)

[ogradda]

19. they don't miss a trick do they?

nope sure don't.

[moondust]

20. The bastards.

This isn't giving. This is imposing favors on people so that you can later claim they owe you and must grant your wishes.

Repulsive and dishonest. The work of scoundrels.

[Warren Stupidity]

21. there was a subplot in the sopranos

where Tony loans an acquaintance money after he loses everything in a poker game. When the shlep can't pay the interest, the gang helps out by taking over his business and running it into the ground, looting everything they can get their hands on.

We are the planetary mafia.

Also see Chalmers Johnson's excellent "The Sorrows of Empire" for how we use every opportunity to build ever more outposts in our empire.

http://www.americanempireproject.com/bookpage.asp?ISBN=0805070044

[Just Me]

23. I hope to soon get my hands on both "Blowback" & "The Sorrows of,...

,...Empire" notwithstanding both likely just reaffirms what I have already myself concluded.

[LizW]

30. it's called a "bust-out", I think

The mob takes over an existing business (or, in Bush's case, a country or a Social Security system) and uses it's reputation and credit to rack up huge debts while looting off the assets. When the company is stripped bare and ruined with insurmountable debt and people start suing, the mob walks, leaving the owner holding the bag.

Thanks for making this connection. I hadn't thought of it before, but it is EXACTLY how Bushco has operated. They took over America and are running a bust-out on us.

[jmcgowanjm]

32. And here are the planetary police

There was no point in destroying the US economy until
it became clear that the election was rigged and the
neocons had been moving ahead with a hostile agenda
all along. For the world, November 2nd represented yet
another Rubicon: there is no longer any hope of
"peaceful coexistence" with the American Empire. Ultimately
this conflict must become a physical
one.

An all-out run on the dollar is imminent and from the
moment that begins we will be living in a whole new
ruthless and unforgiving world. The best way to weaken
the American military before fighting it is to eliminate as much
of its funding as
possible.

Ruppert -FTW

http://www.libertyforum.org/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=news_business&Number=293235913#Post293235913

[dbt]

25. Woomp! There it is!

[Vidar]

28. This is why India wouldn't accept American aid.

[Catchawave]

29. This demonstration of Humanitarian US FORCEs....

...will backfire when the first radical group lobs it's first missile at our troops.

[jackofhearts]

31. Well that explains the sudden

change of heart from the fascists. As soon as some war monger PNAC fuck got the memo out that we could get more military hardware spread around the planet suddenly the fascists become compassionate.

[jmcgowanjm]

33. The US must be the #1 aid donor ($) for this strategy to work

Australia-$764M
Germany-$668M
Japan-$500M
US$350M-if it can find the money.
-The US has been gaining a rep for reneging.

[bin.dare]

40. australia will be the front man ...

... they will appear to give the money, but the real expense, the military.,will be given by US.

[jmcgowanjm]

42. Exactly. good call, bin.dare

they will appear to give the money-
but who's going to watch to make sure
it's given.
No big deal until one returns to
who calls the shots.

I can see it now.

Since Japan has actually given
only 45% of its pledge, Australia,
still the leader with 47%
will....

[bin.dare]

44. some early numbers from Reuters ...

US military spending $6 mln a day on Asia relief
Last updated: 06-01-05, 19:45

The Pentagon has spent $40 million on the Asian relief effort and estimates expending about $6 million daily to operate ships, helicopters, airplanes and other US military assets, officials said today.

Meanwhile, the US Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy has set sail from San Diego, California, to provide medical services to survivors of the tsunami, which killed close to 150,000 people, and will arrive in the region in about 30 days, according to US Pacific Command.

The Pentagon said operating costs for military assets in the region were estimated at $5 million to $6 million a day, including $2.4 million in personnel costs and $3.2 million for operating ships, aircraft and equipment.

...

The US military currently has about 1,300 military personnel on the ground, most in Thailand, for relief efforts, and another 12,000 aboard 17 Navy ships in the region, along with about 50 helicopters and about 40 cargo, reconnaissance and refueling airplanes, Pacific Command said. A U.S. Coast Guard ship also is part of the effort.

[leesa]

36. THIS is why India wants nothing to do with our "help"

[jmcgowanjm]

43. Where are the 1000bed hospital ships-Comfort&Mercy?

The US is attacking Sumatera.
The only conclusion possible.

[0007]

38. Tell me they are not priming us for the draft?