Docking of U.S. nuclear carrier George Washington a grave violation of sovereignty

The Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) Sept. 3 assailed the docking of the US nuclear-powered USS George Washington at the Manila Bay as “a grave insult and affront on Philippine sovereignty.”

This is living proof of intensified U.S. military intervention in local counter-insurgency operations and emphasizes the use of the country as a base for the asserting of US might in the region as elucidated by the Obama doctrine that “The Pacific is an American Lake.”

The U.S.S. George Washington had earlier docked in Manila just over three weeks ago, ostensibly for a goodwill visit. It has a 6,000-strong force and is part of the US Navy’s 7th Fleet based in Japan. It is a part of the gunboat diplomacy being practiced by the United States in the Pacific.
Earlier in July, the US-Korean Naval forces conducted naval exercises off Yellow Sea and Northern Pacific as a show of force against China, Russia and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.
 
Gunboat diplomacy
 
The Alliance anticipates the docking of more U.S. warships in the Philippines as was discussed by US State Department officials and Philippines President Benigno Aquino last June and will be further discussed in the forthcoming US visit of Aquino III in the US this last weekend of September.
 
The  Alliance said; “Aquino III and the U.S. State Department are united that US military advisers are to feel out the new security and defense officials of the Aquino regime, and consult and advise the Philippine government on the conduct and progress of its ‘counter-insurgency’ operations.
 
“The US advisers are focused on helping design the next internal security operational plan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the new puppet regime to succeed the Oplan Bantay Laya that has been extended from its original deadline last June, pending the issuance of a new plan by the start of 2011.”
 
Pro-VFA Propaganda
 
Aware of the precarious insurgency situation in the Philippines caused by the New Peoples Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,  US military officials are also in the Philippines to get assurances from the new puppet government that it will not cause the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement.
 
The U.S. is aware of the opposition and the strong nationalist sentiment of the Filipino people againsts the U.S. The anti-U.S. and bases movement demand the junking of the VFA and all other unequal military treaties between the US and Philippines. Long-standing calls from several quarters, including a few senators, seeking the review or outright repudiation of the VFA have been reiterated recently.
 
Furthermore the docking of nuclear powered and capable U.S. warships also violates a provision of the reactionary constitution. But despite the people’s opposition the reactionary and pro-US Supreme Court decided that that the VFA is legal. This is very different from the stand of other countries’ Supreme Courts like Colombia which stand up against the U.S.
 
It is very clear that behind all their “goodwill visits” and participation in “socio-civic activities,” U.S. forces are blatantly carrying out military intervention, including satellite and electronic surveillance against the revolutionary forces, advising and participating in counter-guerrilla operations in the field, provision of military war materials and training of puppet military forces since 1946.
 
The AJLPP calls on patriotic and freedom-loving Filipino people in the Philippines and here in the United States to take the Aquino III regime to task for allowing U.S. intervention in the Philippines.
 
IBAGSAK ANG IMPERYALISMONG-US!