Dollar diplomacy
Dollar diplomacy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Asia News Network
Manila
It would be inappropriate for the Philippines to ask for
compensation for joining the "coalition of the willing" against
Iraq, according to the Philippine ambassador to the United
States, Albert del Rosario.
"I don't think it's appropriate to discuss a quid pro quo when
a treaty ally is in need of support," he told the Washington
bureau of a Philippine newspaper. He was reacting to a suggestion
of Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. that the Philippines extract the
maximum benefits from the U.S. for its all-out support for the
war against Iraq.
Pimentel had said the Philippines was entitled to compensation
and other concessions for the use of its air space and refueling
facilities, which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo offered to
the U.S. as her contribution to the war effort.
"What is the quid pro quo" Pimentel asked. But Del Rosario
said that was not the way relations between the two countries
should be viewed. He was trying to move away from the past
transactional relationship and to build a "quality partnership"
with the U.S., he explained.
Which sounds good, honorable and dignified. But that it is not
the way things are done. Certainly not by the U.S. and not in its
efforts to win allies and influence nations to support its war.
U.S. President George W. Bush has been dangling fabulous sums
before the eyes of just about any country that would join his
"coalition of the willing," making it look more and more like a
coalition of the bought.
Only last week, the Bush administration asked the U.S.
Congress for a supplemental US$74.7 billion for the war. Of that
amount, almost $5 billion is to be allocated for economic and
military aid to 19 countries, the Philippines included,
purportedly to help them "wage a broader war against terrorism."
Earlier for its help in the campaign in Afghanistan, Pakistan
got $600 million in aid from the U.S. aside from having $1
billion in debts written off and $3 billion more rescheduled.
Most instructive, however, was how the U.S. tried to buy
temporary basing rights for allied forces in Turkey. The U.S.
once offered $27 billion in aid if Turkey would allow the use of
its bases from which allied forces could open a northern front
against Iraq.
When the Turkish parliament voted the proposal down, the U.S.
promptly withdrew the offer. Now U.S. officials are saying Turkey
would be lucky if it got $1 billion, even if it has allowed
overflight by allied warplanes. If this is not a monetary
transaction, if this is not dollar diplomacy, then nothing is.
From Afghanistan to Iraq and even the Philippines, the U.S.
has been putting a price tag on every expression of support for
its war against terror. So if Del Rosario finds it demeaning to
reduce diplomacy to dollars and cents, maybe he should look for
another job.
His counterparts in Manila do not hesitate to tell the world
how generous they can be to a faithful ally. On the other hand,
Filipino officials often use the size of a foreign aid package as
a measure of how deep Philippine relations are with one country
or the other.
When the President speaks of U.S. support in the war against
terrorism, she no longer sees U.S. troops actually shooting at
the Abu Sayyaf or the New People's Army but dollars flowing into
an ill-equipped Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Now that the administration has gone to bed with the U.S.,
supporting a war that is unjustified and immoral, it would look
ridiculous if it kept up the pretense of being virtuous. Del
Rosario must surely know that more foolish than the whore who
demands a high price is the whore who gives her services for
free.