Bankrolling American Empire in the Philippines
The Pentagon and private capital have teamed up to militarize the island nation. The post Bankrolling American Empire in the Philippines appeared first on The Intercept .
For over a century, the United States has been meddling in the affairs of the Philippines, often through military force. The U.S. military's presence in the Philippines has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of Filipino combatants and civilians, some estimates go as high as 200,000, due to violence, famine, and disease.
Brutal counterinsurgency operations, including burning villages, civilian reconcentration policies, and torture on suspected guerrillas, were common. Even after the closing of U.S. bases in 1992, military relations remained through arms transfers and Special Operations deployments to assist in Philippine counterinsurgency efforts.
Recently, however, U.S. forces have expanded their presence in the country again. This time, private capital is financing these imperialist moves, with business interests, shady political connections, and revolving-door Pentagon officials all involved. Despite the extensive history of U.S. military meddling in the Philippines, the new alliance between private capital and American forces may signal a shift in the balance of power in the region.
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