Anti-Terror Bill OK
Seen to Spur More U.S. Military Aid
The passage of the
anti-terror bill is expected to spur more economic and military aid for
the Arroyo government, in exchange for deepening its involvement in the
U.S.-led "War on Terror" and protecting America's economic stake in the
Philippines, independent think-tank IBON Foundation said Sept. 1.
Posted by Bulatlat
 |
The passage of the anti-terror bill
is expected to spur more economic and military aid for the Arroyo
government, in exchange for deepening its involvement in the U.S.-led
"War on Terror" and protecting America's economic stake in the
Philippines, independent think-tank IBON Foundation said Sept. 1.
U.S. troops arrive
in the Philippines for joint
military exercises with the AFP |
Historically, U.S. assistance to
the Philippines had been directly affected by government decisions that
impact on American geopolitical or economic interests. For instance,
the Senate rejection of the extension of the Military Bases Agreement
in 1990 set off the yearly downfall in U.S. aid to the country until
the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was approved by the Senate in 1998
and reversed the downward trend in U.S. aid. The sharpest increases in
U.S. aid happened after 9/11, with U.S. military assistance to the
Philippines growing by an overwhelming 1,639% between 2001 and 2002.
(See Table)
|
Table. U.S.
assistance to the Philippines
1990-2006 ($ million) |
|
Year |
Econ. aid |
Change |
Mil. Aid |
Change |
Total |
Change |
|
1990 |
351.2 |
- |
142.8 |
- |
494.00 |
- |
|
1991 |
358.3 |
2.02% |
195.5 |
36.90% |
553.80 |
12.11% |
|
1992 |
252.2 |
-29.61% |
31.3 |
-83.99% |
283.50 |
-48.81% |
|
1993 |
124.0 |
-50.83% |
17.5 |
-44.09% |
141.50 |
-50.09% |
|
1994 |
78.0 |
-37.10% |
0.9 |
-94.86% |
78.90 |
-44.24% |
|
1995 |
52.4 |
-32.82% |
1.2 |
33.33% |
53.60 |
-32.07% |
|
1996 |
56.4 |
7.63% |
1.2 |
0.00% |
57.60 |
7.46% |
|
1997 |
40.4 |
-28.37% |
1.3 |
8.33% |
41.70 |
-27.60% |
|
1998 |
71.3 |
76.49% |
1.3 |
0.00% |
72.60 |
74.10% |
|
1999 |
74.5 |
4.49% |
12.3 |
846.15% |
86.80 |
19.56% |
|
2000 |
77.3 |
3.76% |
2.9 |
-76.42% |
80.20 |
-7.60% |
|
2001 |
93.5 |
20.96% |
3.8 |
31.03% |
97.30 |
21.32% |
|
2002 |
73.22 |
-21.69% |
46.03 |
1111.32% |
119.25 |
22.56% |
|
2003 |
98.22 |
34.14% |
52.27 |
13.56% |
150.49 |
26.20% |
|
2004 |
71.66 |
-27.04% |
24.58 |
-52.97% |
96.24 |
-36.05% |
|
2005 (est.) |
91.98 |
28.36% |
36.73 |
49.43% |
128.71 |
33.74% |
|
2006 (req.) |
62.92 |
-31.59% |
38.05 |
3.59% |
100.97 |
-21.55% |
|
Sources: US Department of State/Congressional Budget
Justifications, Foreign Operations FY 2004/2005; US Overseas
Loans & Grants (Greenbook) |
Such aid allows the U.S. to pursue
its economic and military agenda in the country. An anti-terror law
would make it easier to pacify groups opposed to the U.S. agenda by
dubbing them as "terrorists" and curtailing their civil rights as well
as levying harsh penalties on them.
Such a law also complements
Arroyo's total war policy against the CPP-NPA etc., tagged a “foreign
terrorist organization” by the U.S. State Department. With U.S.
guidance, the counter-insurgency war under Arroyo is capped by a
widespread assassination campaign targeting leaders of progressive
groups and human rights activists. This campaign parallels the Central
Intelligence Agency-sponsored Operation Phoenix during the Vietnam War,
which was designed to identify and "neutralize" the non-combatant
infrastructure of Vietcong cadres in South Vietnamese villages.
Posted by Bulatlat
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