Obama calls Arroyo on VFA (Philippines)

[IndianaGreen]

Source: INQUIRER.net

Obama calls Arroyo on VFA

Lauds her efforts vs terrorism

By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:57:00 03/15/2009

MANILA, Philippines -- US President Barack Oabama made a surprise telephone call to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo early Saturday morning (Friday night in the United States) to reaffirm his country’s alliance with the Philippines and its commitment to the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Palace officials, thrilled by the gesture that followed a series of failed attempts by Ms Arroyo to meet with the US President, could not help but point out that it was the latter who sought her out.

“They reaffirmed their commitment to the long-standing US-Philippine alliance, including the VFA which remains critical to the bilateral relationship and our strategic interests,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said, quoting from a White House statement.

Obama also “commended President Arroyo on her country’s efforts in countering terrorism, and modernizing the Armed Forces,” Remonde said, still quoting from the statement.

“The two leaders discussed the need to work closely together on the global economic crisis as well as on other areas of common concern, including climate change, education, and interfaith dialogue,” he said.


Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090315-194199/Obama-calls-Arroyo-on-VFA

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Arroyo is perhaps the biggest terrorist in the Philippines. An autocrat, Arroyo represents the interests of the evil troika of Filipino politics: the hundred families that own most of the wealth, the Church, and the military.

[babylonsister]

1. Was President Arroyo elected, and hasn't she been prez for years?

If so, who do you think President Obama should talk to besides her?

[IndianaGreen]

3. Then Vice President Arroyo engineered a coup against President Joseph Estrada in 2001

and Arroyo was accused of stealing the 2004 election. Her security services were found to have engineered terrorist attacks in order to justify additional repressive measures. In addition, US troops in the Philippines have been accused of playing active role in counter insurgency rather than serve as advisers.

There are two legitimate insurgencies in the Philippines, one led by Moro separatists and the other by the New People's Party.

[babylonsister]

4. Do you have links with a valid argument from a valid source

against her? I haven't heard a word about how horrible she is.

But then again, I'm here and the PI politics are pretty far removed from ours. That I definitely 'get'.

[FreakinDJ]

5. Pretty damming evidence was introduced for election fraud

but then again....

almost any thing is possible and "Forge-able" in the philippines. I listened to the tapes and you could literally hear all the cut and paste. Some official said he had the original (which was "Crystal Clear") but then was never able to produce it.

BTW: Gloria was the vise President and assumed power when then President Estrada was found to have been raiding the country's treasury

And its "New Peoples Army" which was created by college students during the Marcos era. The original group of about 10,000 who was famous for their march in Cebu City broke up after the clash with government troops. U.S. Media reported Marco used "Water Cannons" to break up the march calling for him to step down. I've personally talked to those who held their dying friends in their arms as they passed away.

Funny Ronald Reagen never mentioned machine guns.

The then defunked NPA was taken over by Mao communist and receives clandestine financing from China

The Moro Seperatist are Muslims and Christians and Muslims have been fueding in the Philippines since Christianity was introduced some 500 years ago. Muslims in the Philippines are treated the way America treated Blacks 200 years ago

- no wonder they are revolting

If your really interested in links try searching the Manila Times on line

[madrchsod]

2. she may have worse ratings than bush....

oh well she`s a "friend" of america

[Prometheus Bound]

6. VFA opponents hit, belittle Obama-Arroyo phone talk

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 03/15/2009 7:01 PM

Opponents of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States criticized and belittled the phone conversation between President Arroyo and US President Barack Obama and said the campaign to abrogate the agreement will continue.

.......The group also scored Obama for carrying over the policies of his predecessor George W. Bush.

"Mr. Obama’s call to Arroyo does not show any departure from the Bush policy of US intervention in other countries through military agreements like the VFA. This is not the change that people expect from the Obama administration. He’s giving us more of the same Bush "war on terror" rhetoric," Reyes said.

"Obama, who is also a lawyer, seems to be unaware the that the VFA was not even ratified by the US Senate and is not even enforceable in the US," Reyes added.

Bayan said that Obama’s support for the VFA will not change public perception of one-sidedness of the agreement, saying that they will only be challenged o "further expose the real US agenda in the VFA."

......."Like a true little brown brother, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde was giddy with joy at the fact that US President Barack Obama called up Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Since Remonde is simply her alter ego, we can surmise that GMA is no less thrilled and no less a little brown sister," the statement said.

"Showing their slavish mentality, Malacañang officials are happy that their master called up to make certain its imperial bidding is done," they added.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/03/15/09/vfa-opponents-hit-belittle-obama-arroyo-phone-talk

[IndianaGreen]

7. I don't support US troops or military role in Philippines, or Arroyo and her ilk.

Obama surrounded himself with too many war hawks. We need more progressives, particularly in national security, before we find ourselves in a quagmire of our own making.

Did I mention Afghanistan?