OK fine. Interesting.
What can the U.S. Army bring to the Pacific?
1. Training. The Army Special Forces, Rangers and Engineers should be used to perform continuous training (at an increased rate) with our Pacific Allies.
2. Provide 1 airborne brigade on alert, ready to deploy by C-17s from the U.S. within 48 hours.
3. Have 2 Stryker Brigades train for operations in the Philippines. Deploy pre-positioned equipment to the Philippines for these Brigades.
4. Provide 1 Stryker brigade to deploy to the Philippines within 1 week via military airlift and the civilian reserve air fleet. It would meet up with its pre-positioned equipment.
5. Provide (active,reserve,guard) support units to deploy to the Pacific within 1 week.
These assets should deploy in exercises once a year.
This capability would provide a demonstration of U.S. commitment, which is what any Pacific Rim strategy should be all about.
5 comments:
My Grandfather's brother was actually a Col. US Army at the time, fighting in Philippines during WWII. I was visiting the Visayas recently, my first visit to the Philippines.
I'm all for increasing US strategic capability in rapid mobility of ready-alert US Army and USMC elements, but with respect to pre-positioning equipment in Philippines... I'd personally support a referendum before pushing too hard on that specific call.
One has to respect Philippines. They are a newly independent nation after many centuries of foreign control and influence.
They need to debate this whole aspect as a nation, of being an independent sovereign nation thing, at the same time being part of a greater global picture. In my humble opinion.
There are mixed emotions and opinions as it is, with the US role and active policy in fighting truly violent and extremist thugs in various parts of the Islands today.
I fully support US joint-training with Philippine armed forces in the future... coordinating with and adapting to the Filipino operation and tactics of their future Super Tucano and TA-50 aircraft.
But I'd only support 'pre-positioning' US equipment, as rational as it sounds upfront, if there was some greater in-country political support and legitimacy for it.
Respects to a strong and sovereign Philippines!
Absolutely right !
Maybe it is the same for the sovereign Australia, if Australia has still its sovereignty.
Respecting the Philippines sovereignty is a good idea. And, any defense agreement should have that effect. I think you will find in reading P.I. newspapers over the last few months that some are a little more agreeable to U.S. troops training in-country in larger quantities when you consider the Communist sabre-rattling over the South-China Sea events. http://goo.gl/DMQIm
I think pre-positioning people and stuff in the Pacific is dangerous. The Army better pursues strategic mobility (air vastly preferred, as sea should be the Marines' job) to react to situations that might arise anywhere from East Africa to the Sea of Japan. If one thinks about pre-pos'ing, Australia would be the only place I'd put stuff.
With regards to a prudent and credible US Pac-Rim strategy and specific regard to US's attention and respect to Philippines... The US as an entity, not merely the DoD, should be more strategically focused and concentrated on supporting and encouraging a transformative Filipino Govt. The current Filipino govt (as a governance body for a mere 25 yr old independent nation state) is, for numerously debated reasons, sadly still hopelessly incompetent and corrupt. That's gotta change first, ASAP, for a proud and self-sufficient Philippines to conduct a legitimate and sustainable strategic national plan before all.
Otherwise, the coordinated external 'commie' propaganda and disinformation will truly eat any proactive Philippines prospects alive in a very short period. Hard cold reality.
Now, so much potential in Philippines really... so much will-power and pride and unanimous desire for a successful, free and prosperous nation of islands which has unfortunately been largely foreign-constrained over the past 500 yrs from properly developing as an Asian Tiger!
Two big strategic Filipino assets for near-term development and investment - under a hopefully soon, newly transformed Filipino leadership - would be to develop and seek credible investment for self-sufficient renewable energy generation (eg, ocean and sea-based energy generation capacity and geo-thermal). Why be addicted, bribed and enslaved now to foreign Coal imports and cheap-financed foreign controlled Coal power plants, when the real sovereignty and independence is within the true water and land boundaries of Philippines!?!
In due time, when the PI environmental health improves, just watch the economy, physical health and national pride sky-rocket!
What the hell is wrong with this picture! Come on Philippines, let's go!
Secondly, another near-term strategic development interest and priority is investing in and seeking investment in international health services component of a new economy!
This will be a multi-billion dollar (trillion peso) industry service! The education system is there, the kind hearted, hard working and personal dedication is there... the graduated nurses are there... but the infrastructure and service is NOT there!!
What the hell is wrong with this picture! Come on Philippines, let's go!!
As for Filipino Territorial Self-Defense?? Let the new patrol boats, TA-50 and Super Tucano operate tomorrow honorably, with proud national service!
Sure, coordinate some training with US services and other foreign military cross-training opportunities and if Philippines is ever directly attacked on large scale, yes, the US is at least on paper (needing clarification and post-Cold-war amending) committed to assist in defense of Philippines.
But that's a different issue and should not be primary strategic focus of US's policy towards Philippines at this time in history. In my humble opinion.
Post a Comment