Frank,

You epitomize the "ugly American." The Philippine people and their government have long been an allies of the American people. Your summary dismissal of this longstanding valuable relationship merely demonstrates arrogance and disrespect, probably salted with a little subliminal racism. Its this kind of thinking that has ruined America.

The idea that America deserves to have military bases in sovereign nations is a leftover from the colonial era. Imagine if other nations based their friendship upon our willingness to let them establish military bases on our sovereign soil.

That the Philippine people asked us remove our military base from their sovereign soil was a sign of maturity and confidence in the stability of their democracy. It was good for them and good for us. Your failure to recognize this only illustrates your misguided arrogance, as well as your complete ignorance about foreign affairs.

Donald