When US forces left the Philippines (PI) soon after Wiki on Mount Pinatubo covered Clark Air Base (Clark AB) in over ten feet of ash in 1991, many of us who had lived on and served at Clark AB, wondered when we, the American military, might ever return. The answer is: Today.
Last week when US President Obama visited Manila, the 10-year military agreement to return US forces to the PI had just been inked a few hours before his landing. That landing symbolized the US return as its Commander in Chief met PI dignitaries for the remainder of the next two days. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/02/us-philippines-usa-idUSBREA4107020140502
So now the US Navy will have access to Subic Bay, its deep water port where subs, carrier groups, and a host of other vessels will once again dock continuously. Clark AB will be fully dug out, the runways resurfaced, and several groups of various planes from fighters, attack aircraft, supply, and surveillance will once again fly to and from throughout every day and night. Ground forces will also set up their perimeters north of Manila at Fort Magsaysay to run their jungle training exercises, among other things. Makes some of us feel like returning to the PI, where many of us bore and raised families on American facilities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines–United_States_relations
It won’t be a smooth ride, unfortunately. The Chinese have since 1999 been pushing hard to establish dominance over the South China Sea. Second Thomas Shoal has been blockaded and Scarborough Shoal has been occupied by the Chinese. A PI transport was run aground by the Chinese, PI planes have been forced down, and Chinese destroyers have boldly approached closer and closer to the PI. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/04/us-philippines-how-strategic-pa-201442871034598657.html
HamiltonFinanceServices.com analysts predict the following: With the American return, the tension will mount; operations tempo will quicken; and eventually the shoving match will ignite into more obvious engagements. In other words, the world just got much more dangerous. What do you think?
