The election of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte constitutes the lowest point for the struggling Filipino democratic system. Duterte has used profanities against President Obama, the United States Ambassador to the Philippines, Pope Frances, the United Nations and others who have questioned his blood-soaked reign as president. Recently, he even compared himself to Hitler in not only refusing to stop his extrajudicial killings of alleged criminals but saying that he was prepared like Hitler to murder millions. This budding tyrant has declared that the very concept of human rights is the “anti-thesis of government.” Finally, Duterte has pledged to end military training exercises with the United States, break away from the close alliance with the United States, and rely more on China and Russia. He has even been taunting the CIA to try to oust him. For those already familiar with our checkered history of supporting dictators and even enemies of the United States, it will come as no surprise that (just as Duterte is pledging to support Russia and China and fighting the United States), our government just approved another $180 million in aid to someone widely viewed as blood-soaked, anti-American lunatic.
So after screaming profanities at the U.S. and our President (and ambassador), this crude clown is rewarded with $180 million as he pledges to pull back from the U.S. alliance and work with Russia and China instead. Americans are still steaming after supplying much of the weaponry acquired or captured by ISIS and other Islamic extremists. We seem eager to give weapons and wealth to those who hate us. In addition, we are supporting a government that is killing thousands of accused criminals and a man who compares his hopeful death toll enviously to Adolph Hitler’s success in murdering millions of Jews.
Duterte is now one of the most vocal and vicious authoritarian leaders in the world and we will affirm to the world that human rights violations matter little to the United States.
To make this particularly absurd, Duterte has indicated that he wants to buy weapons from Russia and China. He will now be able to have million more to spend with the U.S. ponying up $180 million from the Obama Administration to support his military.
Brilliant.
After we pull all business, military, and food aid out, what’s left? Let’s see how long they last. Go purchase weapons from a country that is taking you waters. That will lend for a good short fight. China wants their land/waters and will take as soon as we leave.
Sounds like Duterte is a smart cookie. As the proxy wars heat up he’s playing both sides – and laughing all the way to the bank and back. He knows the US needs the Philippines for the Asian pivot containment scheme and he’s going to milk us for all he can get.
I’ve said it before: the bigger the lapel pin the greater the crook.