US Praises Thailand's Response To Floods

[animatic]

Yes, Panetta, the Pentagon and the naval commanders have no doubt referred the Thai leadership as many different shades of asshol_e over this with considerable justification. They rejected bountiful humanitarian assistance due to fear of losing face, just like their close friends and business partners in Burma did in the same situation last year. This comment is diplomatic speak for "what a load f*cking idiots". The man used to be in charge of the CIA. So lying comes very easily to him.

Yes I agree.

So they are stroking the locals so that they can be 'allowed to help'

I don't see it as negative <deleted>, but a good thing. Panetta isn't worried about losing face for spewing stupid crap, but more interested in letting the local fools get over their fears, and let them help out. It is political maneuvering to get the job at hand done.

[Orac]

There was another ship on RnR in Pattaya, that was pull out to join the carrier group.

I've seen nothing to say GW was at Pattaya.

After 56-days at sea, the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and her crew of 5,500 Sailors arrived in Laem Chabang, Thailand, Aug. 6 for a well deserved rest and relaxation port visit in the coastal city of Pattaya.

http://www.facebook....150240241252452

Yes in August. We are talking the last couple of weeks.

ie recently.

Maybe you are but the post being critised didn't mention that time frame. Indeed it said 'The USS Washington was still in the Gulf after visiting several ports for R&R including Phuket, Pattaya and Malaysia' which would have been quite a task to acheive in 2 weeks.

[hammered]

Yes, Panetta, the Pentagon and the naval commanders have no doubt referred the Thai leadership as many different shades of asshol_e over this with considerable justification. They rejected bountiful humanitarian assistance due to fear of losing face, just like their close friends and business partners in Burma did in the same situation last year. This comment is diplomatic speak for "what a load f*cking idiots". The man used to be in charge of the CIA. So lying comes very easily to him.

Very inconvenient for those of an entrenched view that the US authorities, including the US Ambassador, have gone out of their way to correct some barefaced lies.Probably explains the incoherence and anger in the quoted post.

The lies and scares being spewed by parts the media are commented on by most Thai people I know and most of them arent friends of Thaksin or Yingluck but are sick of the bad mixture of media lies for political purpose at the expense of people and sick of the scaremongering about thing s like there wont be any money and Tescos will close. I am also outside Bangkok and do however note that even among those that dont like Thaksin and his mates there is also still the antipathy towards the concept of Bangkok that permeates much of upcountry Thailand but is often rarely seen or maybe rarely given any consideration by the Bangkok elite. I wont include all Bangkokians in that as I notice little antipathy towards people but just towards the overall elitism (in a non-red kind of context) and of course many working people in Bangkok have family outside and understand the divisions.

[rametindallas]

That was on August 6. Seadoo posted that they just left RnR in Pataya, he went on board as guest of the US Embassy and that the task force already in the vicinity. I have trouble believing they hung around the Gulf of Siam for 2 1/2 months.

*flame edited out*

Edited October 26, 2011 by Scott
Flame edited out/Scott

[bkkjames]

That was on August 6. Seadoo posted that they just left RnR in Pataya, he went on board as guest of the US Embassy and that the task force already in the vicinity. I have trouble believing they hung around the Gulf of Siam for 2 1/2 months. *flame edited out*

+1, 2 and 3

Edited October 26, 2011 by Scott
Flame edited out/Scott

[Samuian]

Quick response ????

Now this has to be the joke of the day.

Can someone please explain to the morons who are supposed to be the government what "proactive" means?

So far we hear about reaction, response..... anticipation would have been a much better attitude. But maybe they can't

Sheer sarcastic irony in the statement regarding the "quick response" and refusing help of the US Navy aircraft carrier!

[Orac]

That was on August 6. Seadoo posted that they just left RnR in Pataya, he went on board as guest of the US Embassy and that the task force already in the vicinity. I have trouble believing they hung around the Gulf of Siam for 2 1/2 months. *flame edited out*

Maybe you could point me to where Seadoo said it had just left RnR in Pattaya as I can't see that. All he said was that it was still in the area after several port visits and then you yourself pointed out that it was in Singapore on 12th October which isn't exactly far away and in fact closer that Phuket which is one of the places Seadoo mentioned???

Edited October 26, 2011 by Scott
Flame edited out/Scott

[howto]

Thailand did not rebuff the US.

The US just rebuffed Thailand (in diplo-speak),

and gently reminded this group of fools

that the US is their "close ally".

Which means all that economic and defense support.

Is the US pissed, you bet.

Retasking that group was a big deal.

It was in the proximity of Japan lending support, and retasked to here.

The Japanese would have been informed of the retask,

and they would likely have been pleased given their massive losses here.

So the non-watermelon generals were asking the US for help,

as that fool-of-a-pm recently placed them in a position to fail

at maintaining Bkk's northern front of the flood.

And they know that is/was an impossible task and they need help.

Then the fool-of-a-pm, in the press, states she welcomed assistance.

So there were signals for the US to come, they did,

then there was no formal request, which is required.

That must come from the fool-of-a-pm, err,,, sorry, her brother.

Therein lies the question, why does he/they want Bkk out-of-action?

There is a goal, there is an agenda, there is something afoot.

Think "Sun Tzu's Art of War",

which brother has been playing for more than a year.

Events in Yala yesterday may also be a part of this.

There is a reason they don't want the US presence here.

It is not about face.

This group gives not one dam_n about face.

So they pissed off the US (and likely the Japanese even furthur).

During high-tide Murphy's Law will really kick in.

Next Monday, examine the physical and political landscape.

Irony, Monday is Halloween, a fitting occasion for these events.

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of "Gilligans Island".

[Orac]

^^^

'Think "Sun Tzu's Art of War",

which brother has been playing for more than a year.

Events in Yala yesterday may also be a part of this.'

Now I have heard it all - Thaksin was involved in the Yala bombings yesterday????

I would except that it might have been because of him as it was the anniversary of Tak Bai but implying something more sinister is sterching my credulity a bit far.

[puntmeister]

"US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, on a tour of Asia, "is closely monitoring the situation and applauds the Thai government's quick response to this major natural disaster," spokesman George Little said in a statement. "Thailand is a close ally, and we will continue to work with Thai officials to assess what they may need in the form of assistance from the United States." ...

A US defense official in Washington told AFP on Monday the United States had received "mixed messages" from Thailand about US assistance and in the end, no formal request was issued."

Looks like Little contradicts the unnamed source of AFP.

help in a dear situation like this, should be a help without "issuing formal requests", conditions and diplomatic pressures. Good, that the US is changing it's policy towards thailand.

Yes, that's viable - foreign soldiers just come in uninvited. No visas, nothing, just walk up on shore, guns in hand. Who cares what the Thai government wants, we'll just invade anyway.

[Jingthing]

I think Panetta made a mistake. It isn't America's political role to praise or criticize any Thai government's disaster response. It is America's role to be a good friend to Thailand, no matter what regime is in power. Praising the response is absurd and likely motivated by ignorance, diplomacy, or both. He should have simply expressed concern and willingness to help.

[Zodiac]

Was in not in 1938 there was a similar newspaper headline when Chamberlain returned from Munich with a peace agreement in his hand. The US said then:

"US Praises Chamberlains Response to Hitler".......

[hammered]

Heads explode in yellow land

[thaikahuna]

Leon Panetta is another idiot politician who is capable of talking out of both sides of his mouth simultaneously...as are most politicians. The plain fact is that the U.S. Marine advisors who came in to help evaluate things more than likely told them they were screwing the pooch. Then to save face, the government made no request for the assistance that was sitting off shore....and it has now sailed away.

Not too long ago the GW carrier group was stopped in Laem Chabang for several days of shore liberty before going on to SG and one ship to KH for annual exercises.

AMAZING THAILAND!

[marinediscoking]

There have been no US navel personal in Pattaya within the last month. No mention in the local papers here about visiting ships and I am in pattaya. My business always benefits when they are in town. I am quite surprised that they did not stop here as they were already in the vicinity.

[DP25]

That was on August 6. Seadoo posted that they just left RnR in Pataya, he went on board as guest of the US Embassy and that the task force already in the vicinity. I have trouble believing they hung around the Gulf of Siam for 2 1/2 months. *flame edited out*

+1, 2 and 3

Before the stop in Singapore, USS George Washington was in South Korea until early October.

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=63049

BUSAN, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- Sailors from nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) visited the Sung Ae Won Home for Children during a port visit to Busan, Republic of Korea, Oct. 2.

Before South Korea they were at their home port in Japan until Sept 19th

They weren't just hanging around near Thailand on R&R for 2 and half months. They were not scheduled to go to Thailand again and left Singapore early specifically to help with the flood. They could have stayed longer if they were asked.

Edited October 26, 2011 by DP25

[harryfrompattaya]

Constantly amazed at the anti=American rants on this site, and a good deal of the ranting is from Americans.

Lets focus on Thailand and Bangkok and the issues at hand.

It is true I think most of them avery poor and upset and claim to be super rich and have Hi So wives but can not afford a Bar Girl once a Month.

I am surprise they are allow to post here.

[djlest]

What have those GI Joes been smoking - here we are to save the day! Are the cameras rolling, we aint picking up any shovels unless they are.

[xminator]

Think of this statement as just stroking the PM and her FROC staff, so they make face and can more easily make use of US resources, without thinking they will lose face. Just politics in the real world, Carry on.

Of course you would think so. Oh how you wish for this disaster to continue so you can continue your blindfolded crusade against anything not smelling Democrat dictatorship. Of course news that might help you adjust back to reality wont be processed in narrow minds.

Grow up, learn that disasters happen, sometimes you are in its path. Thailands response have not been worse, nor better then what is "normal". Thailand could have been better prepared, the democrats decided to fill the dams early in light of last years near empty dams, earlier flood have not triggered the massive constructions that would have helped preventing 50 year flood.

After a few months of giving a rats ass about the millions that where in deep trouble upstream, its "buddha" that Bangkokians now face the same troubles. The huge projects that follow this flood should not be limited to Bangkok, but planning need to start all the way north, and also include flood and drought prevention in the Northeast even if that water never reach Bangkok.