New U.S. security pact

This seems like an excellent time to reassess the security of our part of the world.

Such an appraisal may actually be overdue, not least because Okinawans once again are concerned about the 14 U.S. military bases and 45,000 troops on their island.

Many of them consider this is far more than is fair or needed.

Shocked and angry at charges three American troops abducted and raped a 12-year-old Okinawan girl, demonstrators are demanding a reduction -- or even a withdrawal -- of U.S. forces.

The leaders of America and Japan insist their relations are good, and are quick to point out the advantages of the bases.

It is easy to see, however, that the Okinawa protests are far from unprecedented.

Since the end of the Vietnam war in 1975, Thailand and the Philippines both have sent all U.S. forces packing.

Our country also joined Indonesia, and ASEAN in general, in turning down Washington's requests for floating stockpiles of U.S. arms designed for quick use in any military emergency.

Here in Thailand, we have not been hostile to the U.S. military -- we conduct joint exercises and allowed use of U Tapao as a staging area during the Gulf War, for example.

Still, there is good reason to doubt we have replaced the outdated Cold War security policies with well-considered alternatives.

Our region has had nearly 10 years of peace since the Vietnamese army's retreat from Cambodia, yet the promise of what former U.S. President George Bush referred to vaguely as a new world order still is unrealized.

In fact, it has not been defined in any meaningful or hopeful way.

Nationalist trends in our own area and throughout the world have cut U.S. military presence, but little has emerged as the basis of long-term security commitments.

The United States remains an important key to a new security strategy for this part of the world.

This strategy, which is overdue in a world which is changing faster than ever in history, must be designed to protect all regional countries and their citizens equally from predator nations which may appear, however unexpectedly.

Until nuclear disarmament is achieved, this should depend partly upon Washington's nuclear umbrella, as in the past.

A new security policy must also take fully into account the newly emerging pride of nations which now stand on their own.

There is no longer a need -- or an argument -- for unquestioning subservience to America.

Neither is there a reason to abandon the protection it is able to provide.

-- The Bangkok Post