After Obama Cancels Talk, Rodrigo Duterte of Philippines Says He Regrets Slur

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: New York Times

President Obama canceled a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines scheduled for Tuesday in Laos, after the Philippine president directed an expletive at Mr. Obama on Monday. On Tuesday, Mr. Duterte released a statement saying he regretted that his curse “came across as a personal attack on the U.S. president.” He blamed his words on “certain press questions that elicited concern and distress.”

<...>

Mr. Obama, who was in China for a Group of 20 meeting, departed on Monday for Laos, becoming the first American president to visit the nation. He is also scheduled to take part in the East Asia Summit and speak at a forum with young people. Mr. Obama had planned to meet Mr. Duterte in Laos, but the White House said early Tuesday that the meeting had been canceled.

“Clearly, he’s a colorful guy,” Mr. Obama said Monday. “I always want to make sure if I’m having a meeting that it’s productive.”

Mr. Duterte acknowledged Tuesday that the meeting had been canceled and seemed to take a softer tone: “We look forward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions, and working in mutually responsible ways for both countries.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/06/world/asia/philippines-duterte-obama.html

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It seems that the era of proper international decorum by heads of state, is rapidly coming to a close.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Not to a close. Duterte is an exception. . . . . nt

[BumRushDaShow]

12. And Bibi is too?

[yardwork]

2. Well played by President Obama.

[whistler162]

3. WOW and to think we can have our very own

Duterte come November 8th! YIPEE <SARCASM>

[Pluvious]

22. I'm not sure we're fully informed...

Another viewpoint posted elsewhere:

Happened by this actual convo between a pinay and an american friend, on one of the threads and gave me a grin.

Here's a random scenario from abroad.

American talks to his Filipino friend: Hey Felicia. I'm sorry to hear about what's going on in your country right now. Hope your family is okay.

Pinay: Why what's wrong?

Kano: Haven't you read the news? There's been a lot of killings going on. The elected President is running the country with his reign of terror. They say he is a mass murderer and he is committing genocide.

Pinay: Oh, you mean the killings? Those are legitimate police operations. Those were criminals and drug peddlers killed because they resisted arrest. Wow! Genocide? That's like killing 6 million in a holocaust. That's just too much. Don't believe that. My family has never been better. In fact, this is the happiest they've been since the new President took office.

Kano: Really? Why so?

Pinay: Yeah. Because change has come. Just barely two months and he's done so much. Did you know that we already have 911 emergency response? 600,000 drug addicts and peddlers voluntarily surrendered for rehabilitation. More than 10 mining firms closed down because of illegal operations. They're making the country self-sufficient in producing rice. Stranded OFWs were rescued in Saudi Arabia. The railway transit is being repaired and is much more efficient now. The President goes after the drug lords and corrupt politicians. The government is engaging with peace talks with the rebels. They're hunting down the terrorist group down south. Crime has gone down 49%. It's so much safer to walk the streets now.

Kano: Wow! For real? I haven't read those in the news.

Pinay: Yes. Because media outlets here only report the negative ones. Most media corporations in the Philippines are owned by oligarchs. That's why they try to bring down the President because they are scared of him.

Kano: Thanks for telling me this. No wonder Filipinos always have good things to say about your new President.

Pinay: That's right. For the first time in my life, I've seen a President that we can really trust. He has the approval of 91% of the Filipinos. Oh, and by the way. Don't believe that it's chaotic in the Philippines. We will be hosting the next Miss Universe and you can go and visit.

Kano: That would be lovely!

================
The point is. No matter how they destroy Duterte in the international community, there will always be a Filipino who will defend him and tell the truth.

[True Dough]

11. In the simplest of terms

like Trump, Duterte declared himself a law & order candidate. The Philippines is a place where crime, particularly relating to drug lords, is rampant. People have been living in fear. The idea of a president who would take a tough stance against it was appealing, even if Duterte is rough around the edges, to say the least. He made a dent in the crime rate in Davao City while mayor, although his style of rough justice is reason for concern.

There are a few things about him that seemingly get lost in the shuffle though:

http://time.com/4325711/rodrigo-duterte-philippines-president-women-lgbt-china/

[BumRushDaShow]

20. I was thinking that too

Sadly, there are places in the U.S. (e.g., Chicago at the moment) where folks are frustrated as hell at the senseless gang wars and the question would be, how to handle without such drastic measures such as this.

My mother (history/poli sci major) used to talk about what happened in China during the revolution, where China cut itself off from the rest of the world and there was essentially a slaughter that went on to rid themselves of the terrible "opium problem".

IMHO, as long as you have non-egalitarian societies (which unfortunately is part of "human nature&quot you are going to have some attempt to "escape the turmoil and stress" through drug use... and there will be those who try to profit from that.

[House of Roberts]

5. The Philippines elected their own Trump.

Obama's reaction is a precursor to the way Trump would be treated by other nations if he were somehow President.

[Blue_Tires]

13. +1

[Sunlei]

6. After 8 years of G20 progress, Duterte has failed the Philippines society again.

[BlueCollar]

7. Duterte is another version of Trump

Duterte has a South China Sea policy problem and calling President Obama a "son of a whore" is unlikely to score him points.

The President made the right call. No point in meeting with Duterte personally at this time.


Leave that to the Junior Deputy Assistant to the Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for the sub-region of islands in the Pacific whose name starts with a P. Should be able to work it in between Palau and Polynesia....

On edit: No offense intended towards Palau or Polynesia...just trying to make a point

[annabanana]

8. lol . . . .. "Junior Deputy Assistant to the Assistant " . . etc . . .n/t

[GOLGO 13]

9. Small timers need to know their place.

Not ready for prime time player.

[JustAnotherGen]

10. Good

He's had to put up with that shit from his own 'country' - there's no reason for him to tolerate it or BOW down to that ass wipe who insulted his mother.

Fuck that guy.

[Grimelle]

17. Amen

[yallerdawg]

14. What's Tagalog for...

"Oops"?

We know what "putang ina" means - sort of.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Seems that "pagkakamali"

might be the closest to it (a mistake).

When I have heard tagalog spoken, they often mix in English and Spanish words as well. Fascinating to listen to (I watch a bunch of cooking videos spoken in tagalog)!

[Grimelle]

16. That mofo is Chicken!

Losing those $$$ makes him sorry real quick.

[NWCorona]

18. He knows he done fucked up with that comment.

[Person 2713]

19. Wacko but he was elected. They can keep him and get further isolated internationally

[mitch96]

21. Duterte, He Regrets the Slur

Cause he "forgot" we give them a bucket load of cash... Always follow the money. The slur is maybe gonna cost him
m

[truthisfreedom]

23. I think he got the "we are putting a kink in your air hose" memo.

He's toast.