When defense secretaries are given up by their presidents, something must be up the latter’s sleeves By Himpad Mangulmalas

When defense secretaries are given up by their presidents, something must be up the latter’s sleeves

By Himpad Mangulmalas

Al-Jazeerah, November 15, 2006

Former Philippine Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz was reported not to have fit in well with President Arroyo’s clout of advisers due to his opposition to this administration’s most notorious executive orders --- Calibrated Preemptive Response, PP 1017, and E.O. 464 that has exposed the Macapagal-Arroyo government’s unjust, anti-people, undemocratic policies. According to Cruz’s allies, his opposition to the SIGAW-ULAP Peoples’ Initiative, which was backed by Malacanang but junked by the Supreme Court, was the final blow that led to his resignation.

Meanwhile, US government Defense Chief General Donald Rumsfeld found himself in the dog house shoved out by US President George Bush himself as a last resort to salvage his leadership’s loss in the US midterm elections that gave the majority grip on the highest seats of power in the US government to the Democrats. Rumsfeld was the pawn given up in an attempt to appease the American peoples’ anger over the US military’s worsening defeat in the war in Iraq.

These very similar events magnify the sea of similarities of the two governments --- both are engaged in war dominated by self-interest, both are losing at their home fronts and are then again being frustrated by the people’s opposition --- SC junked the peoples’ initiative while the Republican Party led by Bush was dumped by the American people. Both are reeling over extreme unpopularity --- the American’s anger over the death of more than 2800 US soldiers and a war bill totaling to US 3B and the Filipino’s distrust fueled by the Hello Garci scandals, 760 or more victims of extra judicial killings which also earned GMA bashing from the international community. Indeed, both are on their last foot, unable to get back on their feet without the peoples’ support.

When defense chiefs are given up by their presidents, we see cards reshuffling for new policy designs in the wars they lead. Both leaders have lost their peoples’ confidence and both are afraid to lose more. (A point of fact is GMA has more to lose – her dream term extension of up to 2010! I don’t suppose Bush is also pushing any charter change agenda to extend his term?)

Himpad Mangulmalas

Spokesman, Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (National Federation of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines-KAMP) #48 A Mapagbigay St.Brgy. Pinyahan Diliman Q.C. kamp_phils@yahoo.com

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

Apartheid Wall


The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03).

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