Back to Today @ CUFSA
Moderator: Kathleen
A)Against United States intervention: Joe and Aimee
B)For United States intervention: Regie, Jericho and RJ
*note* both groups were willing to argue both sides. The decision who argued what was determined by Kathleen. Both arguments will be listed by the corresponding letter above.
2 Minute Opening
A) CUFSA against the USA had 3 points of argument:
1) US intervention politically attacks sovereignty and authority of the Philippines.
2) New US agreement infact maintains the US self interest in occupying the Philippines.
3) Not generally good for the Filipino people.
B) CUFSA for the USA had 3 points of argument:
1)Philippine military does not have enough resources to fight extremist terrorist organizations.
2)US will eventually give money to the Philippine economy.
3)More Jobs for the Filipino people.
5 Minute Arguments:
A)CUFSA Against The USA:
-Violates territorial integrity of the Philippines.
-State Sovereignty is the ability to afffect own economy and environment, allowing the US in takes that sovereignty away.
-US will be a dictator in military operations. History proves this true. Several historians, both American and Filipino have proven this. What type of influence would affect the Philippines?
-Philippine Constitution is a non-intervvention document. Also the Mutual Military Agreement allows for aid in matters outside the Philippines, not inside.
-This is not the first time the USA interviened in the Philippines and the results were not beneficial for the people.
B)CUFSA For the USA:
-Does the Philippines really have sovereignty? The Philippines were considered to be the USA's first colony. Their claim for Independence was written in paper, but have they acted on it? Has the Philippine government done enough without US aid to believe that they are truely Sovereign?
-Most Filipino's observed don't really care about what the US does in the Philippines. So should it matter if the majority doesn't care?
Rebuttals:
A) CUFSA against USA:
-It is true that majority support US troops in the Philippines. But who controls the country? The elite rule in the Philippines.
-So we want to have the dominating classs rule over the majority for another fifty years?
-53% of resources into military and payiing off the debt. Which means there is less money for education and welfare.
-Ever since the U.S. was booted out of the Philippines it shows that the Filipinos don't want the USA around.
-Also if the issues were known: Those educated on the issue may not choose the same decision.
-The economy (1941-1996): The USA did noot support local industry. Instead the only industry on the rise was prostitution in the Philippines.
-Amnesty International also points out tto possible U.S. human rights violations in the Philippines.
B) The world is turning towards Globalization, why not in the Philippines? Also nobody said they will stay.
A)Historical Facts prove that the US will stay if their interests are still involved. The Philippine defence looking to add more US presence in the long term. The Visiting force agreement allows both countries to have their forces in foreign soil, yet Philippine military cannot be seen in presence of US soil.
-This U.S. excercise is not supported in any other country, for fear that the US military will dominate issues involving the war on terrorism.
B)The hostage situation in the Philippines late 2001...shouldn't the US be able to deal with issues with respect to their own people?
A)International Law doesn't allow this. Even change in International law cannot happen so easily. If the roles in the situation were vice versa this simply would not happen or be allowed to happen.
B) The Kosovo situation a few years ago also dealt with sovereignty issues. Obviously the matters were quite different, but in this case NATO placed themselves beyond the nations sovereignty in order to deal with this. Why should this be different?
A)This is a US excercise on the basis that this does not have the okay from the NATO body. NATO agreed to aid the US on the war on Terrorism in particular dealing with the main culprits for Sept. 11th. The enemy is not as clear cut as it is not simply based around a certain country.
B)Is it really dependency on the US or is it merely a means for security?
A)This US excercise will keep Filipinos down. This form of patch work will only cause more problems in the future. Not stability just more dependency on the US. It will only intensify war with more US numbers in the Philippines.
-US Investment results with every US dolllar coming in, 4 dollars go out. The USA has very lucrative deals which always allow them to come out on top. The Philippines becomes abused and it is because it is not mutually beneficial.
END OF DEBATE
Results: The CUFSA group had voted 6-0 against Foreign Intervention Issues. As a result it is not only the stance of CUFSA it cannot be argued in the future unless new material and events come in to play that will have the group re-evaluate the issue.
For more info regarding the US/Philippine issue you can check out these links: