Posted on 06/08/2012 10:36:57 PM PDT by LibWhacker
With the U.S. moving the majority of its naval fleet to the Pacific, commanders are eagerly looking for invitations to park the planes and ships that will be pouring into the region.
Travis Tritten at Stars and Stripes reports that the Pentagon has apparently been fanning the old flame of friendship with the Philippines and will be re-opening two bases it left in 1991 — Subic Bay and Clark Air Base.
The U.S. had a falling out with the island nation in the early nineties and pulled out of the bases, which were then built-up by a series of private developers and builders. How useful what's left is a matter of debate, but the locations used to be major centers of operation for American forces in the Pacific.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Ping to PI returns
Thanks for your detailed report. I had wondered how the locals coped with the loss of revenue when the bases shut down. Obviously the transformation of these sites into office complexes, hotels, warehouses, airports, etc. offers more dignified alternatives to the old rackets.
Those islands are ran by and largely owned by a relatively small number of elite ruling famililes . . . more or less like the rest of the planet . . .
Anyway . . . make them pay, if you wish.
Just be careful not to trouble the wonderful Filipino people who have plenty of struggles all on their own, already.
Yeah like we really need this...”The Philippine Government faces threats from armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separatists in the south.”
Those islands are ran by and largely owned by a relatively small number of elite ruling famililes . . . more or less like the rest of the planet . . .
Anyway . . . make them pay, if you wish.
Just be careful not to trouble the wonderful Filipino people who have plenty of struggles all on their own, already.
Truth bump
1962 - spent almost six months tied to the pier. Fond memories indeeed.
Some places are cooler, weather-wise, than others, right?....Bagio felt like PA in the early fall. Course I’d just come up from Blue Beach with a heck of a sunburn.
“Those islands are ran by and largely owned by a relatively small number of elite ruling famililes .”
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There are 7107 islands here.
Which ones are you talking about?
When Subic closed in 1991, Mayor Gordon secured the base and stationed guards to keep the looters out, (Angeles City did not do that for Clark). Mayor Gordon then started plans to make Subic a FreePort and eventually got the Philippine Government to agree. Call Centers were the first to set up, but computer manufacturers were right behind them.
The old navy facilities were remodeled and turned into things like, a yacht club and fancy restaurants. The Officers housing and enlisted housing, (Kalayan, Binictican etc), were turned into rental housing for corporate executives and lower management personnel.
The Navy would have no need to establish a Navy Exchange because there are so many duty free stores in the Subic FreePort along with major shopping malls in Olongapo and on the old base.
There are numerous major hotels in the FreePort now and many public beaches.
Cubi Point, (the old Navy Air Station on the Subic Bay Naval Station complex), is now an international airport and the old Navy hospital at Cubi point is now a large civilian hospital.
Currently U.S. navy ships make port calls at Subic, but no more than two or three a year. The Island of Palawan, where I live, has had two U.S. Navy ship visits in the last three years, the last was earlier this year. The visits are short and are in conjunction with joint Naval exercises.
Go to http://wikitravel.org/en/Subic_Bay for more details.
You’re right..no corruption or ruling elite..i’m sorry...carry on.
If it tastes good who cares what it is - as long as it’s legal.
Lots of folks in the US will not eat goat, mutton or deer. Silly them.
“You’re right..no corruption or ruling elite..i’m sorry...carry on
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Don’t be snarky.
All countries, especially third world countries have corruption, almost as bad as the Obamination.
I have not been affected by any corruption, but please elaborate your experiences here.
Inquiring minds would like to know.
did someone from the Marcos family take over???
a Ferdinand or Imelda Junior perhaps?
the Baluts are on me!
Clark Freeport Zone is now a civilian airport, a telecom center and has an industrial park. Come over for our "balloon" festival, or stay there at a hotel when you come for an ecovacation to Mt. Pinatubo
I'm less familiar with Subic, but they have a ship building business up there, and lots of folks drive up there from Manila to shop for bargains, since it is a "free port" i.e. duty free.
I need another 4 years so lets start something in the pacific so I can continue to borrow money from you
It’s the 70’s all over again.
Can’t wait until Obama puts all the B-52s on nuclear alert again.
October Surprise: Bombing Iran. Carter II, the Sequel
I seem to remember that the Filipinos kicked us out and then immediately regretted it after their economy collapsed without any American money fueling it.
Thanks for that. I was unaware of that development.
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