From the Manila Standard Today (Nov 26): Yolanda justifies US troops’ PH presence
Super Typhoon Yolanda brought out the need for increased presence of US troops in the Philippines, Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario said on Monday.
In a press conference with the US congressional delegation headed by Representatives Chris Smith of New Jersey, Al Green of Texas and Trent Franks of Arizona, del Rosario said that the U.S. response to Yolanda justified the need for a new military framework agreement.
Smith on the other hand seconded del Rosario’s statement, stressing that the storm has brought the Philippines and the US together giving a positive boost to the ongoing bilateral negotiations between the two countries.
“Those of us who are here are very much in favor of the strongest possible bond between the US military and the Philippine military in every aspect and we know there are negotiation that are underway,” Smith said.
“I think in a paradoxical way the storm has brought all of us even closer together,” he added.
Green, for his part, said he would do everything that his government will do to solidify the US-Philippines’ friendship including efforts in bringing both military together.
“What we can to solidify that more and more,” he said.
He said that the increased rational agreement could be the key to bring the U.S and Philippine military together.
The congressional delegation is in the country to expressed the sympathies of the American people, to check the relief operations and to assess what else is needed in terms of emergency relief, rehabilitation and rebuilding.
The negotiation for the US increased rotational presence in the Philippines is an integral part of the Obama administration’s repivot to Asia policy after more than a decade of preoccupation in its war against terrorism campaign in the Middle East, hit a snag days before Yolanda flattened our parts of Leyte and Samar provinces.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/11/26/yolanda-justifies-us-troops-ph-presence/
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