The Climate is Right for Pre-Emptive Strikes

This article in The Christian Science Monitor has a provocative quote about the military escalations occurring in Indonesia and the Phillipines.

"This is the right time to go back to war," says Dr. Andrew Tan, an expert on regional insurgencies at Singapore's Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies. "In the context of the war against terrorism, there are few, if any, diplomatic costs to seeking a military solution."

Mr. Bush seems to be wearing out the welcome mat both in Washington and at his Crawford ranch encouraging this trend.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo received 'royal' treatment at the White House Monday which included a meeting in the Oval Office and a black-tie dinner. Multiple agreements were signed this AP report described as the 'first of their kind';

Under the law enforcement pact, the United States will provide technical help and training and support development of the criminal justice system to make it more effective in fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and other major crimes, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

Also, Ople and Andrew Natsios, administrator of the Agency for International Development, signed an agreement to finish decommissioning and reintegrating returned combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front, which signed a peace agreement in 1996 after a quarter-century of fighting.

The article goes on to describe what Arroyo was seeking in return for her cooperation in the war on terror which apparently she demonstrated just hours before leaving for Washington this past Saturday when she authorized the military to use bombing and artillery attacks on terrorist cells in the southern region of Mindanao.

Arroyo wants to take home more than memories.

Singapore's Goh visited Washington last week and signed an agreement that would wipe out tariffs and other trade barriers on about $33 billion in annual trade and give U.S. banks and companies more access to one of Asia's main financial centers.

Now it's Arroyo's turn.

She is seeking duty-free privileges for Philippine products, such as dried mangoes, pineapple juice and tuna. Arroyo also wants to see Philippine businesses get reconstruction contracts in Iraq and is trying to lure U.S. companies to invest in operations on the islands.

The talks didn't change the non-combative role U.S. troops would serve in any joint operations. According to the NYT more troops will be sent to the region.

James B. Goodno does a fine job explaining why our presence there doesn't elicit a warm welcome in return.

Mr. Bush today entertained Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at his Crawford ranch in a continuing effort to gather support for 'tightening the noose' around North Korea.

According to this article Japan is prepared to implement a pre-emptive strike strategy should they feel threatened.

The Progressive Review yesterday linked to a group that should be very, very pleased by these events.