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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, AUGUST 26, 1983
PAGE 8
Here is a column in the August 23 edition of USA TODAY, written by David
Hardin, which shows the reality of the U.S.-Philippines "big brother-little
brother" relationship, and what could happen if President Marcos is driven
from power. It is entitled "Marcos isn't perfect, but we need bases."
The assassination of .Benigno Aquino--Marcos main rival for power
--is certain to start the drums banging again for this country to
do something about Marcos. It is easy to go along with the noise.
Too easy.
And dangerous for this country's interests in the
Pacific.
Readers having only recently discovered Chad may want to take
another trip back to the atlas and look up the Philippines. It is
in the Philippines that the United States maintains the largest
air base in Asia, at Clark Air Force Base. It is here at Subic
Bay, in an area covering 450 square miles of land and water, that
the U.S. Seventh Fleet is based.
To the northeast is Japan and Korea. Go west and there's Viet
nam.
Go north and there's Taiwan, the People's Republic of
China. Look all around the Philippines and there is an area of
strategic interest to the United States.
And out there, somewhere, is the ever- <J rowing Soviet fleet,
causing American military shfps to maintain � thin � of de
fense that would be severed, were this country to yield its
Philippinebases.
-- --
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That could happen.
An overreaction to Aquino's murder and a
hardening of American opposition to Marcos could also jeopardize
a $900 million aid package for the Philippines. That package,
yet to be approved by Congress, is in exchange for another five
year lease of U.S. bases at Clark and Subic Bay.
There is no arguing that Aquino's death also was a tragedy. It
leaves a vacuum at the top among those Filipinos who oppose
Marcos and who back democratic forms. More than anything, it en
courages communists who opposed Aquino as well as Marcos. A get
tough attitude toward the Philip � ines--its people long the
friends of the United States--woul ultiriiately strengthen the
hand of the communists.
The United States can urge a complete investigation of Aquino's
death. But the Philippines is still a strong and vital ally, and
the only way for this country to exert any influence toward
greater democracy is to stay in the game.
Iran taught us that
there are sometimes far worse alternatives to a dictator. And if
you can't buy that, 1ust look again at the map.
Few realize that the strategic bases in the Philippines are also essential
to the U.S. military presence in the Indian Ocean and even the Middle East.
President Reagan has given no indication yet that he will cancel his stop
over in Manila on his swing through Asia in November. But the pressures on
him not to go are certain to grow if the investigation into Mr. Aquino's
death is left inconclusive. The incident in the Philippines is yet another
sign of the weakening U.S. position in the world.
--Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau