The following statement was presented at a rally and caravan held in Seattle on Sept 15. This action was part of a National Day of Protest in opposition to the revival of U.S. military bases in the Philippines.
We are proud and honored to join with our Filipino Brothers and Sisters in this national day of resistance aimed at stopping the revival of U.S. bases in the Philippines. The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is just one more way for the U.S. to control the Philippines under the lie of "joint military exercises." We call this bullshit. In 1991, the Filipino people spoke clearly for the whole world to hear when they sent the U.S. military packing. The attempts by the U.S. and its "puppets" within the Philippine government to re-establish a U.S. military presence are nothing short of a new build-up of weapons of mass destruction in the Pacific.
As members of the Anti-Intervention Network and as veterans of imperialist wars, our stand is: "No U.S. Troops Anywhere/Anytime! No U.S. Troops, No U.S. Bases in the Philippines! U.S. OUT!"
We are Vietnam Veterans Against the War Anti-Imperialist. Our ranks include veterans of more recent wars: Panama, Somalia and the Gulf. As former mercenaries for imperialism, we know first-hand its true nature, and that is why we are anti-imperialists.
As veterans, we vow to bring the lessons paid for in blood into direct opposition to the imperialist powers -- of any kind. Imperialism in the Asia/Pacific region means military bases, repressive neo-colonial regimes, super-exploitation, sweatshops, the squeezing and ruination of peasant agriculture, enormous ecological damage and a vast "sex industry." Imperialism means a world of haves and have-nots. This is the kind of reality that agreements like the VFA bring and enforce.
All new imperialist eras are ushered in with blood. This was true in 1898 when, with the Filipino-American War, a new oppressor arrived on the scene. A quarter of a million Filipinos died as a result of that war. In the 100 years since, we have not seen a kinder, gentler U.S. imperialism -- but a system which has continued its crimes ten-fold.
The U.S. has once again ushered in a new era--its new world order--with the massacre of a half of a million Iraqis. And, in the nature of imperialism, after the occupation by guns comes the occupation by the almighty dollar. They must be exposed, opposed and stopped!
Because it is the world's only superpower, many ask the question: "Can the U.S. be defeated?" A Black Panther Party leader said in the 60s: "The spirit of the people is greater than the man's technology." We agree with this because we experienced it first-hand in Vietnam. Our organization, VVAW AI, originated in opposition to the Vietnam War. When the U.S. fought in Vietnam, it was organized modern technology versus organized human beings -- and the human beings won. Clearly the fighters in the Philippines have the support of their population and will be victorious. We salute them.
In the twenty-five years since the defeat of the U.S. by Vietnam -- and they are still trying to rewrite and bury this history -- the fact is that the fall of Saigon permanently changed how the "mighty" U.S. is looked on by the rest of the world. The Vietnam Syndrome is alive and well in the Philippines, as well as Nepal, Peru and like places around the world.
We are anti-imperialists vets but not necessarily anti-war. We uphold the just struggles of the people throughout the world and we uphold the People's War that is challenging the U.S.'s 100-year-long grip on the Philippines. The people of the Philippines are not our enemies, they are our sisters and brothers.
We have a special responsibility in all of this. It is U.S. imperialism that is scanning the globe for new victims and we are strategically located to oppose them at their home base. While we support your resistance, we must raise the level of our own. We face a common enemy. Let us deepen our bonds of solidarity. Let us learn from and work with each other. Let us fight together for a different future. We can emancipate ourselves and all humanity.
We say: No U.S. Bases in the Philippines!
No U.S. Troops Anywhere/Anytime!
Junk the VFA!
The People of the World are NOT Our Enemies-They are Our Sisters and Brothers!
Vietnam Veterans Against the War Anti-Imperialist (VVAW AI)
PO Box 21604
Seattle, WA 98111-3604
Phone/Fax (206) 374-2215
vvawai@oz.net
http://www.oz.net/~vvawai
[posted September 21, 1998]
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