US naval ship arriving tomorrow Nov. 19 on "routine port call"
Seriously: What connection of USS Gridley ship, 1898 Battle of Manila Bay & Bugs Bunny cartoon?
Seriously: What connection of USS Gridley ship, 1898 Battle of Manila Bay & Bugs Bunny cartoon?
My Comments:
I believe the U.S. government statement that these naval ship visits to Manila and other Asian ports are truly "routine port calls" to sailors and other navy personnel their much-needed rest and recreation as well as for naval exercises.
It is also my analysis that President Barack Obama's announced strategic policy shift called the so-called "pivot" is also essentially a military move, which seeks to bolster American military presence and strategic influence in the world's most economically vibrant region of Asia.
Hopefully, USA shall continue to act as a stabilizing force in Asia, and not unnecessarily or mistakenly provoke any misunderstandings with other powers in the region. USA military presence can and should be a stabilizing force in Asia, nothing more.
USA just needs to communicate more with other Asian powers to allay any misunderstandings. In fact, China, the East Asian dragon economies and ASEAN have in the past decades flourished economically due partly to the stability ensured by USA military presence in Asia as long as there is mutual respect, mutual trust and nonstop open communications with all powers.
USA just needs to communicate more with other Asian powers to allay any misunderstandings. In fact, China, the East Asian dragon economies and ASEAN have in the past decades flourished economically due partly to the stability ensured by USA military presence in Asia as long as there is mutual respect, mutual trust and nonstop open communications with all powers.
Ideally, I believe the ASEAN region should in the long-term be a nuclear-free, neutral and demilitarized region focused mainly on economic prosperity---not a battleground for rival superpowers.
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Thanks to USA diplomats for sending me this news:
USS Gridley to Arrive in
Manila, November 18, 2012 --- USS Gridley (DDG-101), an Arleigh-Burke Class Destroyer, will arrive in Manila Bay on Monday for a routine port call which the United States embassy described said "highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines
The USA Embassy added: "This visit will allow the ship to replenish supplies as well as give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation."
The USS Gridley DDG-101 is part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and is homeported in San Diego , California
Interestingly for the Philippines is this tidbit of history---The naval ship is named for Captain Charles Gridley, Commander of the USS Olympia who was famously told by Admiral George Dewey to “fire when you ready, Gridley” in the historic Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.
That "Battle of Manila Bay" episode in history started America's role as new colonial power, colonizing the Philippines and subduing the Philippine revolutionaries fighting for independence then under the leadership of President Emilio Aguinaldo.
The Philippine revolutionaries were already winning their war of independence against three centuries of Spanish colonial rule, when the then rising USA intervened militarily, conquered the Philippines and subsequently suppressed Filipino rebels still fighting for self-rule in the Philippine-American War.
In fairness to the United States, it was American colonial occupation which helped transformed a formerly backward, agricultural Spanish colony into Asia's second wealthiest economy next only to Japan in less than half a century of American rule. It was under the Americans that the Philippines had Asia's best public schools, pioneer stock exchange, modern mining and other industries. A lot of ultra-nationalists may be morally right in criticizing America's suppression of Philippine independence, but it cannot be denied that USA colonial rule had modernized the Philippine economy to its golden years.
That "Battle of Manila Bay" episode in history started America's role as new colonial power, colonizing the Philippines and subduing the Philippine revolutionaries fighting for independence then under the leadership of President Emilio Aguinaldo.
The Philippine revolutionaries were already winning their war of independence against three centuries of Spanish colonial rule, when the then rising USA intervened militarily, conquered the Philippines and subsequently suppressed Filipino rebels still fighting for self-rule in the Philippine-American War.
In fairness to the United States, it was American colonial occupation which helped transformed a formerly backward, agricultural Spanish colony into Asia's second wealthiest economy next only to Japan in less than half a century of American rule. It was under the Americans that the Philippines had Asia's best public schools, pioneer stock exchange, modern mining and other industries. A lot of ultra-nationalists may be morally right in criticizing America's suppression of Philippine independence, but it cannot be denied that USA colonial rule had modernized the Philippine economy to its golden years.
(Capt. Charles "Steve" Gridley)
This a view of Capt. Gridley, Cmdr. Lamberton (Gridley's eventual replacement) and Lt. Rees, aboard USS OLYMPIA
According to the USA Embassy, no media availability is planned during USS Gridley’s short visit to Manila Bay
By the way, another tidbit of information---Charles Gridley is best remembered as the Captain of the USS Olympia, made famous when Admiral George Dewey chose Gridley's USS Olympia as his flagship in the Battle of Manila Bay and Dewey gave the famous order, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."
For kids and the youth, remember this similar line from the various Looney Tunes cartoon shows with this same line was regularly shouted by Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck?
By the way, another tidbit of information---Charles Gridley is best remembered as the Captain of the USS Olympia, made famous when Admiral George Dewey chose Gridley's USS Olympia as his flagship in the Battle of Manila Bay and Dewey gave the famous order, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."
For kids and the youth, remember this similar line from the various Looney Tunes cartoon shows with this same line was regularly shouted by Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck?
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