Analysts Say Pentagon Plans to Keep U.S. Forces in Philippines After Typhoon Clean Up

Edited by Juan Leandro
2013-11-18 13:30:22

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Washington, November 18 (RHC)-- The U.S. Department of Defense claims it is not increasing its military presence in Asia by sending more troops to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. The Pentagon has sent about 1,000 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit along with a fleet of warships and aircraft in the Visayas region of the Asian country for what it calls 'humanitarian' operations in the wake of the disaster.

According to an article in The Hill -- a publication coming out of Capitol Hill in Washington, DC -- former Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said: "I'm not sure I would draw a direct linkage between our [increased] presence in the region and our ability to respond to these kinds of crises." He added that the Pentagon already has what he called "thousands of forward-deployed American service members" across the Asia-Pacific region.

In a move that seems to have little to do with humanitarian assistance, the U.S. Navy has dispatched the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington, cruisers Cowpens and Antietam, and destroyers Lassen, Mustin and McCampbell.

USS Germantown and USS Ashland are also on the way to join U.S. and Philippine forces in the area.

The disaster occurred while the two countries are discussing a new agreement that could lead to an increased U.S. military presence in the Philippines. In line with the Barack Obama administration's plans for increasing military presence in Asia, the U.S. boosted the amount of military funding to the Philippines last year.

The Asian country will receive $30 million in foreign military funding from Washington this year. The funding was $11.9 million in 2011.



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