America's Involvement in the Edsa Revolution
The 1986 EDSA Revolution taught the world democracy. An event proudly included in history textbooks, as the Filipinos victorious non-violent attempt to overthrow the violent Marcos government. But the EDSA Revolution outcome would have not been in the Filipinos favor without the intervention of the Americans.
Marcos and America, particularly their president Johnson, started with an extravagant friendship. Their friendship provided the assistance Americans needed for the ongoing Vietnamese war, which are the U.S. bases in Clark and Subic. Also, assistance provided pro-American Philippine officials with tangible evidence of the Philippine government’s support, which silence them. Unfortunately for the Americans, Marcos cooperation was not free, he required unvouchered payments for the use of the bases.
Marcos and Johnson’s rapport did not last long. Johnson’s displeasure was expressed during Prime Minister Harold Holt’s funeral in Australia, December 1976. According to William Bundy, “President Johnson hit the roof when Marcos presented a new shopping list.”
Although the Vietnamese war was concluded, the America saw the bases as a good strategic logistic importance. Marcos took advantage of this, and required America to pay the rent for the bases. The payment, disguise as an assistance, was allotted to different sectors of the government, most especially the military sector.
Other than the American base issue, the America’s displeasure with Marcos also rooted from Marcos inability to carry on with the Parity agreement. In addition, Marcos’ influence to the ASEAN community minimizes the organization’s dependence on U.S., thus, it weaken the America’s planned foothold in the Asian community. As a result it slimmed America’s chance of doing business with China.
In due time, America realize how much a disadvantage Marcos was. Moreover, the public knowledge of Marcos incurable and fatal disease indicated his near death. The U.S. government could not risk
Marcos and America, particularly their president Johnson, started with an extravagant friendship. Their friendship provided the assistance Americans needed for the ongoing Vietnamese war, which are the U.S. bases in Clark and Subic. Also, assistance provided pro-American Philippine officials with tangible evidence of the Philippine government’s support, which silence them. Unfortunately for the Americans, Marcos cooperation was not free, he required unvouchered payments for the use of the bases.
Marcos and Johnson’s rapport did not last long. Johnson’s displeasure was expressed during Prime Minister Harold Holt’s funeral in Australia, December 1976. According to William Bundy, “President Johnson hit the roof when Marcos presented a new shopping list.”
Although the Vietnamese war was concluded, the America saw the bases as a good strategic logistic importance. Marcos took advantage of this, and required America to pay the rent for the bases. The payment, disguise as an assistance, was allotted to different sectors of the government, most especially the military sector.
Other than the American base issue, the America’s displeasure with Marcos also rooted from Marcos inability to carry on with the Parity agreement. In addition, Marcos’ influence to the ASEAN community minimizes the organization’s dependence on U.S., thus, it weaken the America’s planned foothold in the Asian community. As a result it slimmed America’s chance of doing business with China.
In due time, America realize how much a disadvantage Marcos was. Moreover, the public knowledge of Marcos incurable and fatal disease indicated his near death. The U.S. government could not risk