| arealdeadone | 11 Feb 2020 7:22 p.m. PST |
The Philippines has officially told the US that it is scrapping a security pact that allows US forces to train and take part in joint exercises there. link Also link
Slowly and inch by inch, the Peoples Republic of China unwinds US power in the western Pacific.
Note they have also made massive headway in Thailand and formerly US aligned Malaysia is now buying warships from China despite disputes over land in South China Sea. Cambodia is falling under their influence as well. And then there's their growing presence in the Indian Ocean in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Pakistan as well as Africa (including a military base in Djibouti). |
| Twilight Samurai | 11 Feb 2020 7:58 p.m. PST |
Simplifies things for the rest of us if all the "President for life" wannabes are in the same camp and out of ours. https://youtu.be/9o0rAvZtM7w Problems come if the worlds other superpower joins the club. |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 11 Feb 2020 8:09 p.m. PST |
Maybe the US can transfer the troops no longer welcome in the Philippines to friendly Taiwan instead. |
Thresher01  | 11 Feb 2020 8:16 p.m. PST |
Well, I hope they can quickly learn to speak Chinese, and to tow the line when it comes to edicts from on high. It will be interesting to see if their new Chinese masters/friends will step in to aid the islands every time a typhoon, or other natural disaster strikes them too. |
 ochoin | 12 Feb 2020 5:35 a.m. PST |
to tow the line toe the line. Not much of a sprinter, I assume, Thresher? I understand that the "evil Empire", Russia, has put out feelers to become the Philippine's "new friend". Russia- Chine: toe-mayto- tamahtoe. |
| Stryderg | 12 Feb 2020 6:16 a.m. PST |
I think "tow" works better in this context. |
| USAFpilot | 12 Feb 2020 8:20 a.m. PST |
"Philippines to end US troops agreement" Topic I'm fine with that. In fact there are a lot of places around the world where I wish the US would pull our troops from. And at the same time we could stop paying hundreds of millions of dollars of tax payer funds in foreign aid to many of these countries. |
| Old Wolfman | 12 Feb 2020 9:25 a.m. PST |
Got a bud who lives there with his wife;retired US Navy;Sr.NCO…. that news making me worry a bit for them. |
| Choctaw | 12 Feb 2020 10:21 a.m. PST |
I'm 100% okay with pulling our troops and dollars out. |
| ochoin | 12 Feb 2020 11:53 a.m. PST |
I think "tow" works better in this context. Just no. Next you'll be claiming, "I could care less" is correct usage. |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 12 Feb 2020 2:59 p.m. PST |
I must admit I'm a bit surprised at the rampant Isolationist tendencies and willingness to disengage from America's global responsibilities as a Superpower here. Then again, maybe I shouldn't be. |
| USAFpilot | 12 Feb 2020 3:09 p.m. PST |
surprised at the rampant Isolationist tendencies What have our interventionist tendencies given us in places like Afghanistan and Iraq? Thousands dead and trillions spent with results of chaos and instability. link |
| CORIVGRU | 12 Feb 2020 5:03 p.m. PST |
28mm Fanatik, Global responsibilities???? America has a responsibility for her citizens and has an obligation to our Allies. We didn't pull out of the security pact…PI did. As is their right, most folks are just saying maybe we should concentrate on countries who are like minded and want to remain aligned with us. Hopefully, everything works out for them the way they think and hopefully we can train with another country more instead. A win-win. |
| ochoin | 12 Feb 2020 7:58 p.m. PST |
most folks are just saying maybe we should concentrate on countries who are like minded and want to remain aligned with us. That's about the smartest thing I've ever read on the CA pages on TMP. Stop supporting authoritarian regimes for short term gain would be sound advice for the USA. |
| Thresher01 | 12 Feb 2020 8:37 p.m. PST |
Nope, no sprinter, but I do get your drift. More of an endurance man, myself. What's wrong with "I could care less"? Popular, slang here in the states. "America has a responsibility for her citizens and has an obligation to our Allies. We didn't pull out of the security pact…PI did. As is their right, most folks are just saying maybe we should concentrate on countries who are like minded and want to remain aligned with us". I agree with this sentiment. Better to be aligned with reliable allies, than those that twist in the wind at the first little breeze. I wish the Filipinos luck with their new found friends, the Chinese, and/or the Russians. They'll need it. Potato, potatoe, potatow? Only one of those is correct. |
| tabletopwargamer | 13 Feb 2020 5:41 a.m. PST |
Could care less is not correct. Just as "for **** sake" with out the S on the end. The fact people say it does not make it the right saying. |
| ochoin | 13 Feb 2020 6:25 a.m. PST |
If you can care less, it logically means you care at least a little.
The correct phrase is, " I couldn't care less." This means you don't care at all.
I suspect a geriatric American with a faulty hearing aid heard some British person use it and introduced the flawed usage into the US. |
| ochoin | 13 Feb 2020 6:30 a.m. PST |
"Better be aligned with reliable allies". I would suggest the only allies you want are aligned in terms of free and democratic societies with shared values. How about adding, "treat your allies with respect"? I've noticed this slipping recently. It would be a pity if the US needed friends and found out it didn't have any. Ultimately, it would be nice to belong to a bloc with principles.and one where the US is but first amongst equals. |
| Cerdic | 13 Feb 2020 11:34 a.m. PST |
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