Negroponte says US to help rid roots of terrorism in the Philippines

It will be news to many Filipinos I should think to hear that the corruption situation has improved very much if at all. Negroponte is of course all for democracy, peace, the elimination of poverty etc. as long as a country agrees to recognise U.S. supremacy. Negroponte is really a sterling example of U.S. concern for human rights in its satrapies. Here is a clip from an article by Noam Chomsky:
But nobody should overlook the ominous precedent: Negroponte learned his trade as US ambassador to Honduras in the 1980s, during the Reaganite phase of many of the incumbents in Washington, when the first war on terror was declared in Central America and the Middle East.
In April, Carla Anne Robbins of The Wall Street Journal wrote about Negroponte's Iraq appointment under the heading Modern Proconsul. In Honduras, Negroponte was known as 'the proconsul', a title given to powerful administrators in colonial times." There, he presided over the second largest embassy in Latin America, with the largest CIA station in the world at that time - and not because Honduras was a centrepiece of world power.
Robbins observed that Negroponte has been criticised by human-rights activists for "covering up abuses by the Honduran military" - a euphemism for large-scale state terror - "to ensure the flow of US aid" to this vital country, which was "the base for President Reagan's covert war against Nicaragua's Sandinista government."
The covert war was launched after the Sandinista revolution took control in Nicaragua. Washington's professed fear was that a second Cuba might develop in this Central American nation. In Honduras, proconsul Negroponte's task was to supervise the bases where a terrorist mercenary army - the Contras - was trained, armed and sent to overthrow the Sandinistas.
In 1984, Nicaragua responded in a way appropriate to a law-abiding state by taking its case against the United States to the World Court in the Hague. The court ordered the United States to terminate the 'unlawful use of force' -- in lay terms, international terrorism -- against Nicaragua and to pay substantial reparations. But Washington ignored the court, then vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions affirming the judgment and calling on all states to observe international law.
US State Department legal adviser Abraham Sofaer explained the rationale. Since most of the world cannot be "counted on to share our view", we must "reserve to ourselves the power to determine" how we will act and which matters fall "essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of the United States, as determined by the United States" - in this case the actions in Nicaragua that the court condemned.

So you can expect Negroponte to encourage the AFP when they act as goon squads and that there will be more complaints of human rights groups about the role of the armed forces and police in eliminating activists. Negroponte will encourage state terrorism in the Philippines and this will ensure more military and other aid from the U.S.

Negroponte says US to help rid roots of terrorism in RP
By RODNEY J. JALECOABS-CBN North America News BureauWASHINGTON D.C. - A ranking US official reiterated that America is in for the long-haul to weed out the threat of terrorism in the Philippines.Addressing officials and guests at the vin d'honneur for the 110th anniversary of Philippine Independence here last Thursday, Deputy State Secretary John Negroponte cited the "extraordinary bonds" between the Philippines and US."We built a relationship based on commitment to democracy, strong people-to-people ties, commercial exchanges and cooperation in security affairs," he declared.He noted that the Philippines is home to one of the biggest American communities overseas. The State Department estimates there are 130,000 Americans living or working in the Philippines.By the same measure, there are 2.5 million Filipino-Americans residing in the US, he said."We work hard to ensure these human ties lead to greater bilateral understanding," Negroponte said."It is important to understand that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States military work together not only in defending our peoples from terrorists but also in building conditions that allow people to live in peace," he stressed.Negroponte was ambassador to Manila in 1993-96. He was also the permanent US representative in the United Nations and later became the first Director of National Intelligence.Philippine Ambassador Willy Gaa said the elevation of the Philippines to "compact" status by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) marked a "new frontier" in relations between the two countries."This emphasizes the confidence of the US in our country and in the ability of our people and leaders to fight poverty and create sustainable growth," he said.The Philippines moved from "threshold" status to "compact eligible" after overcoming corruption concerns and meeting MCC standards on three broad parameters. This would open up hundreds of millions of dollars in possible aid for Philippine poverty-alleviation projects."As we move forward as a nation," the country's chief envoy averred, "there will be differences in opinions and concerns.""But we will continue to debate our differences peacefully and with respect. We will remain united in the pursuit of greater good for our people. I am confident that, together, we can do even more," Gaa stressed.He also cited Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, for his Philippine Independence Day message. In a letter last Friday, Gaa thanked "the Senator's warm wishes and call to the US Congress to pass the Veterans Benefits Enchancement Bill (which contain the equity provisions for Filipino World War II veterans)"."It is quite evident Senator Obama has a very good understanding of the historical foundations of strong Philippine-US relations and the valuable contributions made by the millions of Filipino immigrants to the United States," Gaa declared.Negroponte suggested that relations between the two countries can only grow in the years ahead. On the economic front, he said the American investors are active in the energy, semi-conductor, electronics and food and beverage sectors.The Peace Corps, he added, has already sent over 8,000 volunteers to the Philippines. They are spread all over the archipelago, working as teachers, farm technicians and workers in other technology extension activities. He noted that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) provides about $80 million a year - more than half going to Mindanao."The US signed a $190 million pledge last September for an agreement that will bring further economic growth to Mindanao," Negroponte said.He enumerated other US commitments, including the Philippine Defense Reform program, which aims to improve capabilities of the AFP.