Behind The New Surge In The Thai-US Alliance: Opinion

[webfact]

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Behind the new surge in the Thai-US alliance

Kavi Chongkittavorn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Yingluck government - or to be more accurate, the government of her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra - is doing everything it can to get US President Barack Obama to stop over in Bangkok, however briefly, before or after he attends the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh in mid-November.

If he wins a second term that same month, Obama is likely to return to the region - he visited Indonesia in 2010 and again the following year for the Bali summit - to sustain the high-profile Asian policy his administration has pursued over the past two years. If he does not win, which is unlikely, the whole US "pivot" to this part of the world could be stalled. Mitt Romney would need to spend months re-establishing confidence that US security policy will continue on a similar track, even though US leaders from the Republican and Democratic parties are non-partisan on the overall Asian policy.

Last week's visit to Bangkok by General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, created a buzz over the still undefined scope of Thai-US security cooperation under a new strategy. As usual, lots of confused news and comments were written on the nature of the ties in the Thai media, especially on the under-utilised alliance, framed by the Manila Pact (1954) and the Thanat-Rush Agreement (1962). Almost all opinions were mired in Cold War thinking with plenty of questions over US ulterior motives. The most naive argument, however, was that the meeting was linked to the desire to obtain a US entry visa for Thaksin, who plans to visit the US and impress American policy-makers with his "invincibility". Thailand, this theory contends, must be willing to cooperate with the US on the use of U-Tapao airbase and beyond.

Two key points must be remembered - at both the policy-making and implementation levels. First of all, the initial ministerial-level strategic talks between Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be held in Washington this week. After a long delay, the much-anticipated meeting will review the whole gamut of US ties with its oldest Asian friend.

The US proposal to set up a Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and a Disaster Centre must be viewed in this context as part of the strategy to revitalise Thai-US security and strategic cooperation. Additional use of and increased access to U-Tapao for humanitarian purposes will be governed by a new, separate agreement. It will take some time to complete, as the Thai side will be responsible for drafting the terms of reference and a memorandum of understanding. When Clinton visited Bangkok last November, this issue was discussed and agreed with the Yingluck government.

Future implementation of any new Thai-US cooperation would require vetting and approval by the Pheu Thai-dominated Parliament, which is currently bogged down in a quarrel with the Constitution Court. The charter's Article 190, which makes it necessary for the government to seek approval from Parliament on foreign relations, is part of constitutional amendment efforts. This provision was included in the 2007 charter to serve as a check and balance instrument against the executive branch making decisions on its own. Ironically, it was a direct response to Thaksin's dominant role in foreign policy-making decisions.

The request by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or Nasa, to use U-Tapao as a meteorology centre is a new one. Although Thai agencies including the Royal Rainmaking Project discussed this weather-monitoring proposal with Nasa officials a while ago, they have not yet made any public announcement. Once the news made headlines, it immediately stirred up deep-seated suspicions among Thais and other countries as to its "real intent and purpose". This kind of bilateral non-traditional security cooperation has been previously conducted with Japan, Hong Kong and other countries. But they are not the US. The proposed operations would take place over two-month periods beginning in August.

Admittedly, the Thai-US security network has long been neglected due to a lack of common security threats and domestic distractions at both ends. The outcome of the Washington meeting should indicate the perimeters of the renewed alliance's commitments.

Now that the two countries are on the same page, they must also show that their promises and plans are deliverable. As such, the hoped-for US presidential visit to Bangkok later this year would unavoidably serve as a barometer to test US sincerity and goodwill towards Thailand. Diplomats know the great difficulty of convincing a sitting US president to visit their countries, when core US interests are not critically affected. Obama's first visit as president to Indonesia in 2010 took place after two postponements, much to Jakarta's chagrin. The well-paid lobbyists of Thaksin and his sister's government are helping their clients persuade the White House to give Thailand a chance. Apart from promoting the Yingluck government's image, a presidential visit would be a big boost for the alliance, as Thai-US relations reach their 180th year next year.

To get the ball rolling, a huge turnaround on Thai positions will be necessary to register and seize US policy-makers' attention on key issues including longstanding sensitive topics such as the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) proposals. Security and legislative agencies have already given a green light to the PSI pending an official announcement. The latest thinking on the TPP is quite simple - Thailand needs to show willingness to join it and start negotiations with the nine members before it is too late. They have finished the first chapter and have at least 30 more to go before the comprehensive TPP framework is completed. Thailand has nothing to lose by joining.

For the longer term, Thailand must show vision and determination to become an effective alliance partner as part of the US re-balancing policy in Asia, in particular in relation to the rise of China. Within a few months, the Philippines has successfully engaged and got the Americans excited again about their security cooperation. The government of President Benigno Aquino recently said that it would allow the US use of air and naval bases in the Philippines with prior permission and consultations on a case-by-case basis.

The sudden surge of strong Thai-US defence rhetoric is reminiscent of the similar policy and approach toward the US pursued by Yingluck's brother right after the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, 2001. After initial hesitation and faulty security moves, Thailand quickly joined the US global anti-terrorism campaign, highlighted by the arrest of Hambali, the regional head of al-Qaeda, in Ayutthaya and the dispatch of Thai troops to Iraq in 2003. A planned second deployment was scrapped after two Thai soldiers were killed in Karbala in southern Iraq. In return, Thailand got fast-track negotiation of a Thai-US free-trade agreement (the talks collapsed in 2005) and non-Nato US ally status along with the Philippines (the only two countries to have this status in Southeast Asia).

Obviously, the new surge of activity has raised concerns in China, which has maintained close ties with Thailand. The Yingluck government and Thaksin have traditionally been supportive of China as far as economic interests are concerned. Whenever security matters are involved, Thai military leaders are in charge. Thai Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat is one of Thaksin's most trusted lieutenants. Undoubtedly, he has Thaksin's agenda in mind. The hush-hush manner in which the latest attempt to reinvigorate the US-Thai alliance has been conducted - which is akin to the campaign to pass the reconciliation bills in Parliament - could backfire. It lacks the much-needed transparency and consultations with other stakeholders - including the opposition Democrat Party - that are prerequisites in a democratic society.

Thailand's relations with the US and China are its most important bilateral ties. They pose both challenges and opportunities in both the economic and security spheres. If Thailand continues to fool around with strategic ambiguities and sit on the fence as it has done in the past, without a clear strategic vision toward the two superpowers, it will never be more than a pawn in the chess game of great-power cooperation and competition.

-- The Nation 2012-06-11

[manarak]

Thailand's relations with the US and China are its most important bilateral ties. They pose both challenges and opportunities in both the economic and security spheres. If Thailand continues to fool around with strategic ambiguities and sit on the fence as it has done in the past, without a clear strategic vision toward the two superpowers, it will never be more than a pawn in the chess game of great-power cooperation and competition.

The author is only stating the obvious in this article.

Thailand doesn't have the means to have any other ambition than to play the game as a pawn and to use its position to gain occasional favors from both sides - that's the best for Thai people, Thai businessmen and officials, so that's the strategy, carried out by "fooling around with strategic ambiguities and sitting on the fence"... i.e. pay us and we will perform - sounds familiar.

Edited June 11, 2012 by manarak

[noitom]

This The Nation point of view poorly articulates sweeping and delusional projections on global geopolitical issues as well as US election outcomes. The reality is that Thailand is merely a pawn in global affairs as another poster pointed out. As Thailand typically does, it attempts to maximize its financial gain and opportunity by compromising its own "strategic" benefit and making petty deals that can be maneuvered in and out of because they are nothing more than a "loose alliance" at the whims of those Thai politicians and elite business owners who benefit at the time. Purely monetray gain for a few versus benefit for the Thai people.

Take for example, last week in this same newspaper, an editorial was arguing fervently for saying no to U-Tapao for the Americans. The reality is that this is the right decision for the American people, but obviously according to this editorial today, Thailand should be and will be willing to "trade off" probably for some attractive financial cash flow as they did at the start of America's involvement in Vietnam.

This editorial states that the US and China are its main geopolitical/security alliances. Well who else would they contemplate aligning with? It's almost delusional writing by The Nation. Thailand's foreign policy management has been wishy washy to say the least for many years. The Thais saw no wisdom in trading with the west and it took gunboat diplomacy by the British 160 years ago to get them to agree to trade. Since then, the Thais have distanced themselves from the west and China at every opportunity to "maneuver" a deal without the sincerity of a true partnership. Try to play both sides against the middle in true Thai fashion.

In WWII, the Thais quickly turned their backs on the allies and caved in to the Japanese, and declared war on the United States and its allies. After taking their investment money for years after the war, now Thailand claims that Japan is a key economic alliance and PM Yingluck made a trip to pander to the Japanese that the Thais "were in control of water management" so that they had nothing to fear and would remain the largest investor in Thailand. Now this editorial ignores this important Thailand/Japan economic partnership and plays the US/China game while ignoring the importance of Japan, and tries to convince the world that they are a serious "reliable" partner with these ludicrous and delirious editorials that project preposterous moves and outcomes on the key players.

[NanaFoods]

Here is a completely different perspective from Wayne Madsen Report. Not saying I concur with the article... I have no idea... but it is an interesting perspective.

Wayne Madsen Report-

The real reason for America's Southeast Asian projection

WMR's Asian intelligence sources report another, morfe ominous, aspect to the decision of Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to move 60 percent of U.S. naval forces to the Pacific region. Panetta announced in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense conference in Singapore that most of the Navy's littoral combat ships, submarines, cruisers, and destroyers will be deployed in the Pacific. In addition, new U.S. Marine bases are being established in Australia. Panetta, according to our sources, has also been negotiating with leaders of Singapore, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand the establishment of new U.S. military bases or the re-opening of former bases from the Cold War era. The latter include Subic Bay in the Philippines, U-Tapao airbase in Thailand, and Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam.

The United States has plans to build new bases in Darwin, Perth, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Sihanoukville in Cambodia. The United States' "Compact of Free Association" with the Republic of Palau gives Washington the right to establish military bases in that southern Pacific nation, an option that the Pentagon appears to be close to invoking.

WMR has learned that with the continued high radiation affecting the northern hemisphere as a result of life-threatening radiation continuing to be dispersed into the atmosphere from the meltdown of reactor 4 at the Fukushima Dai'ichi nuclear plant in Japan, the Pentagon wants to preserve most of its military forces and to ensure the protection for American elites who have plans to move to the southern hemisphere, particularly the Southeast Asian region, to escape the effects of the radiation circulating around the northern climes.

Currently under wraps are plans to shift a bulk of the U.S. Air Force to the southern portion of the Asia-Pacific region.

Now that Myanmar is opening to the West, the United States is also eyeing new bases in that country, particularly in Naypyidaw, the new capital city that is said to be relatively safe from the northern hemisphere radiation.

On January 2, 2006, WMR reported: "Southeast Asian intelligence sources report that Burma's (Myanmar's) recent abrupt decision to move its capital from Rangoon (Yangon) to remote Pyinmana, 200 miles to the north, is a result of Chinese intelligence warnings to its Burmese allies about the effects of radiation resulting from a U.S. conventional or tactical nuclear attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. There is concern that a series of attacks on Iranian nuclear installations will create a Chernobyl-like radioactive cloud that would be caught up in monsoon weather in the Indian Ocean.

Low-lying Rangoon lies in the path of monsoon rains that would continue to carry radioactive fallout from Iran over South and Southeast Asia between May and October. Coastal Indian Ocean cities like Rangoon, Dhaka, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, and Colombo would be affected by the radioactive fallout more than higher elevation cities since humidity intensifies the effects of the fallout. Thousands of government workers were given only two days' notice to pack up and leave Rangoon for the higher (and dryer) mountainous Pyinmana.

New housing planned for some of the new U.S. military bases, said to be for rotating military personnel, will be sufficient to accommodate America's political, financial, and military leadership.

No less affected by the radiation from Fukushima, Canada has also announced plans to shift a large portion of its naval, air, and ground forces to the Southeast Asia region with Singapore being the "hub" for the Canadian military. Canadian Defense Minister Peter McKay toured a potential site for the Canadian military during his visit to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La meeting.

Although there is tension between the United States and China, our sources have indicated that confronting China's growing military presence in the region is merely a cover story designed to mask the abandonment of the northern hemisphere by the Pentagon. In fact, Chinese defense officials participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue.

WMR has learned that the recent agreement between the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Thailand to establish an atmospheric testing facility at U-Tapao Airport in Rayong is part of the Pentagon's evacuation plans. NASA is being used as a civilian "cover" by the Pentagon.

NASA's SEAC4RS program or Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study will use aircraft to sample air samples over Southeast Asia for radiation levels from weather patterns that could bring radioactive particles from the northern to southern hemisphere. Aircraft are due to be deployed from U-Tapao beginning in August. A senior Pentagon official met with Thai military Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimapakorn on June 4 to hammer out final details on the atmospheric testing to be carried out from U-Tapao. Responding to concerns by some Thai members of Parliament that the U-Tapao base has a military aspect, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaiku may have revealed the actual reason for the base when he stated that it's major purpose was to deal with "natural disasters."

In what amounts to an "On the Beach" scenario -- a reference to the 1960s movie that saw Australia as a temporary safe haven as a result of a nuclear war that killed off all life in the northerrn hemisphere -- the United States, Canada, and other countries are making preparations to re-locate their political and military elites and ample military forces to protect them to the safest zone from the Fukushima radiation -- Southeast Asia.

[quandow]

If ties go through as wished, the first order of business: change spelling of

Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and a Disaster Centre to

Center for Humanitarian Assistance and a Disaster Center

Hope you see the humour (55555).

[Pompey50]

Here is a completely different perspective from Wayne Madsen Report. Not saying I concur with the article... I have no idea... but it is an interesting perspective.

Wayne Madsen Report-

The real reason for America's Southeast Asian projection

WMR's Asian intelligence sources report another, morfe ominous, aspect to the decision of Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to move 60 percent of U.S. naval forces to the Pacific region. Panetta announced in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense conference in Singapore that most of the Navy's littoral combat ships, submarines, cruisers, and destroyers will be deployed in the Pacific. In addition, new U.S. Marine bases are being established in Australia. Panetta, according to our sources, has also been negotiating with leaders of Singapore, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand the establishment of new U.S. military bases or the re-opening of former bases from the Cold War era. The latter include Subic Bay in the Philippines, U-Tapao airbase in Thailand, and Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam.

The United States has plans to build new bases in Darwin, Perth, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Sihanoukville in Cambodia. The United States' "Compact of Free Association" with the Republic of Palau gives Washington the right to establish military bases in that southern Pacific nation, an option that the Pentagon appears to be close to invoking.

WMR has learned that with the continued high radiation affecting the northern hemisphere as a result of life-threatening radiation continuing to be dispersed into the atmosphere from the meltdown of reactor 4 at the Fukushima Dai'ichi nuclear plant in Japan, the Pentagon wants to preserve most of its military forces and to ensure the protection for American elites who have plans to move to the southern hemisphere, particularly the Southeast Asian region, to escape the effects of the radiation circulating around the northern climes.

Currently under wraps are plans to shift a bulk of the U.S. Air Force to the southern portion of the Asia-Pacific region.

Now that Myanmar is opening to the West, the United States is also eyeing new bases in that country, particularly in Naypyidaw, the new capital city that is said to be relatively safe from the northern hemisphere radiation.

On January 2, 2006, WMR reported: "Southeast Asian intelligence sources report that Burma's (Myanmar's) recent abrupt decision to move its capital from Rangoon (Yangon) to remote Pyinmana, 200 miles to the north, is a result of Chinese intelligence warnings to its Burmese allies about the effects of radiation resulting from a U.S. conventional or tactical nuclear attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. There is concern that a series of attacks on Iranian nuclear installations will create a Chernobyl-like radioactive cloud that would be caught up in monsoon weather in the Indian Ocean.

Low-lying Rangoon lies in the path of monsoon rains that would continue to carry radioactive fallout from Iran over South and Southeast Asia between May and October. Coastal Indian Ocean cities like Rangoon, Dhaka, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, and Colombo would be affected by the radioactive fallout more than higher elevation cities since humidity intensifies the effects of the fallout. Thousands of government workers were given only two days' notice to pack up and leave Rangoon for the higher (and dryer) mountainous Pyinmana.

New housing planned for some of the new U.S. military bases, said to be for rotating military personnel, will be sufficient to accommodate America's political, financial, and military leadership.

No less affected by the radiation from Fukushima, Canada has also announced plans to shift a large portion of its naval, air, and ground forces to the Southeast Asia region with Singapore being the "hub" for the Canadian military. Canadian Defense Minister Peter McKay toured a potential site for the Canadian military during his visit to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La meeting.

Although there is tension between the United States and China, our sources have indicated that confronting China's growing military presence in the region is merely a cover story designed to mask the abandonment of the northern hemisphere by the Pentagon. In fact, Chinese defense officials participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue.

WMR has learned that the recent agreement between the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Thailand to establish an atmospheric testing facility at U-Tapao Airport in Rayong is part of the Pentagon's evacuation plans. NASA is being used as a civilian "cover" by the Pentagon.

NASA's SEAC4RS program or Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study will use aircraft to sample air samples over Southeast Asia for radiation levels from weather patterns that could bring radioactive particles from the northern to southern hemisphere. Aircraft are due to be deployed from U-Tapao beginning in August. A senior Pentagon official met with Thai military Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimapakorn on June 4 to hammer out final details on the atmospheric testing to be carried out from U-Tapao. Responding to concerns by some Thai members of Parliament that the U-Tapao base has a military aspect, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaiku may have revealed the actual reason for the base when he stated that it's major purpose was to deal with "natural disasters."

In what amounts to an "On the Beach" scenario -- a reference to the 1960s movie that saw Australia as a temporary safe haven as a result of a nuclear war that killed off all life in the northerrn hemisphere -- the United States, Canada, and other countries are making preparations to re-locate their political and military elites and ample military forces to protect them to the safest zone from the Fukushima radiation -- Southeast Asia.

So all the great and good are going to move to Burma to avoid radiation? And what navel assets will Canada base in Singapore? Of their 12 frigates and 4 destroyers. Interesting piece but I think the writer is delusional at best.

[folium]

Here is a completely different perspective from Wayne Madsen Report. Not saying I concur with the article... I have no idea... but it is an interesting perspective.

Wayne Madsen Report-

The real reason for America's Southeast Asian projection

WMR's Asian intelligence sources report another, morfe ominous, aspect to the decision of Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to move 60 percent of U.S. naval forces to the Pacific region. Panetta announced in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense conference in Singapore that most of the Navy's littoral combat ships, submarines, cruisers, and destroyers will be deployed in the Pacific. In addition, new U.S. Marine bases are being established in Australia. Panetta, according to our sources, has also been negotiating with leaders of Singapore, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand the establishment of new U.S. military bases or the re-opening of former bases from the Cold War era. The latter include Subic Bay in the Philippines, U-Tapao airbase in Thailand, and Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam.

The United States has plans to build new bases in Darwin, Perth, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Sihanoukville in Cambodia. The United States' "Compact of Free Association" with the Republic of Palau gives Washington the right to establish military bases in that southern Pacific nation, an option that the Pentagon appears to be close to invoking.

WMR has learned that with the continued high radiation affecting the northern hemisphere as a result of life-threatening radiation continuing to be dispersed into the atmosphere from the meltdown of reactor 4 at the Fukushima Dai'ichi nuclear plant in Japan, the Pentagon wants to preserve most of its military forces and to ensure the protection for American elites who have plans to move to the southern hemisphere, particularly the Southeast Asian region, to escape the effects of the radiation circulating around the northern climes.

Currently under wraps are plans to shift a bulk of the U.S. Air Force to the southern portion of the Asia-Pacific region.

Now that Myanmar is opening to the West, the United States is also eyeing new bases in that country, particularly in Naypyidaw, the new capital city that is said to be relatively safe from the northern hemisphere radiation.

On January 2, 2006, WMR reported: "Southeast Asian intelligence sources report that Burma's (Myanmar's) recent abrupt decision to move its capital from Rangoon (Yangon) to remote Pyinmana, 200 miles to the north, is a result of Chinese intelligence warnings to its Burmese allies about the effects of radiation resulting from a U.S. conventional or tactical nuclear attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. There is concern that a series of attacks on Iranian nuclear installations will create a Chernobyl-like radioactive cloud that would be caught up in monsoon weather in the Indian Ocean.

Low-lying Rangoon lies in the path of monsoon rains that would continue to carry radioactive fallout from Iran over South and Southeast Asia between May and October. Coastal Indian Ocean cities like Rangoon, Dhaka, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, and Colombo would be affected by the radioactive fallout more than higher elevation cities since humidity intensifies the effects of the fallout. Thousands of government workers were given only two days' notice to pack up and leave Rangoon for the higher (and dryer) mountainous Pyinmana.

New housing planned for some of the new U.S. military bases, said to be for rotating military personnel, will be sufficient to accommodate America's political, financial, and military leadership.

No less affected by the radiation from Fukushima, Canada has also announced plans to shift a large portion of its naval, air, and ground forces to the Southeast Asia region with Singapore being the "hub" for the Canadian military. Canadian Defense Minister Peter McKay toured a potential site for the Canadian military during his visit to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La meeting.

Although there is tension between the United States and China, our sources have indicated that confronting China's growing military presence in the region is merely a cover story designed to mask the abandonment of the northern hemisphere by the Pentagon. In fact, Chinese defense officials participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue.

WMR has learned that the recent agreement between the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Thailand to establish an atmospheric testing facility at U-Tapao Airport in Rayong is part of the Pentagon's evacuation plans. NASA is being used as a civilian "cover" by the Pentagon.

NASA's SEAC4RS program or Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study will use aircraft to sample air samples over Southeast Asia for radiation levels from weather patterns that could bring radioactive particles from the northern to southern hemisphere. Aircraft are due to be deployed from U-Tapao beginning in August. A senior Pentagon official met with Thai military Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimapakorn on June 4 to hammer out final details on the atmospheric testing to be carried out from U-Tapao. Responding to concerns by some Thai members of Parliament that the U-Tapao base has a military aspect, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaiku may have revealed the actual reason for the base when he stated that it's major purpose was to deal with "natural disasters."

In what amounts to an "On the Beach" scenario -- a reference to the 1960s movie that saw Australia as a temporary safe haven as a result of a nuclear war that killed off all life in the northerrn hemisphere -- the United States, Canada, and other countries are making preparations to re-locate their political and military elites and ample military forces to protect them to the safest zone from the Fukushima radiation -- Southeast Asia.

OMG, looks like Wayne Mad-sen-of-a b**ch, would fit in well on TVF with such amazing conspiracy theories!!!

[virtualtraveller]

I'm guessing the initiative here is being taken by the US as part of their renewed and recently accelerated policy to make friends in Asia, sensing a govt that needs favours, and Thaksin sees it as a good chance to try and win himself a visa to Washington, but how far it all gets is debatable. The Chinese were very effective at pressuring Thailand into refusing entry to the Dalai Lama (despite being the world's most active Buddhist country), they won't be letting a US military base put down roots here. It's going to be a tough call for Thaksin who business instincts tell him to pander to the Chinese and the land of his forefathers. He's the type of guy who thinks he can have it both way, but indeed his country is just a pawn. I'm also guessing that US Intelligence here has firmly briefed the US govt that Thaksin and healthy Democracy aren't mutually exclusive, but that never got in the way of US foreign policy did it?

[playon]

Wayne Madsen doesn't seem to realize that SE Asia is in the Northern Hemisphere?

[NanaFoods]

Wayne Madsen doesn't seem to realize that SE Asia is in the Northern Hemisphere?

I think Madsen is quite aware of this... if you look at the wind pattern maps, Thailand and the tropics do not get the brunt of radiation.

[DualSportBiker]

Stratfor did not cover the event - nor is Thailand given extraordinary mention in their work on US strategy in the region; that goes to Singapore...

[EvilDrSomkid]

Stratfor did not cover the event - nor is Thailand given extraordinary mention in their work on US strategy in the region; that goes to Singapore...

When did Strafor come into the picture? Is Wayne Madsen associated with them? A lot of Stratfor's work is "overblown"

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/02/stratfor-is-a-joke-and-so-is-wikileaks-for-taking-it-seriously/253681/

A little quote:

" Maybe what these emails actually reveal is how a Texas-based corporate research firm can get a little carried away in marketing itself as a for-hire CIA and end up fooling some over-eager hackers into believing it's true."

Reading the WMR made me very uncomfortable. I developed an allergy to conspiracy theorist and crazy people in general in 2001.

A nuclear attack on Iran? Seriously?

[GentlemanJim]

Here is a completely different perspective from Wayne Madsen Report. Not saying I concur with the article... I have no idea... but it is an interesting perspective.

Wayne Madsen Report-

The real reason for America's Southeast Asian projection

WMR's Asian intelligence sources report another, morfe ominous, aspect to the decision of Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to move 60 percent of U.S. naval forces to the Pacific region. Panetta announced in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense conference in Singapore that most of the Navy's littoral combat ships, submarines, cruisers, and destroyers will be deployed in the Pacific. In addition, new U.S. Marine bases are being established in Australia. Panetta, according to our sources, has also been negotiating with leaders of Singapore, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand the establishment of new U.S. military bases or the re-opening of former bases from the Cold War era. The latter include Subic Bay in the Philippines, U-Tapao airbase in Thailand, and Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam.

The United States has plans to build new bases in Darwin, Perth, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Sihanoukville in Cambodia. The United States' "Compact of Free Association" with the Republic of Palau gives Washington the right to establish military bases in that southern Pacific nation, an option that the Pentagon appears to be close to invoking.

WMR has learned that with the continued high radiation affecting the northern hemisphere as a result of life-threatening radiation continuing to be dispersed into the atmosphere from the meltdown of reactor 4 at the Fukushima Dai'ichi nuclear plant in Japan, the Pentagon wants to preserve most of its military forces and to ensure the protection for American elites who have plans to move to the southern hemisphere, particularly the Southeast Asian region, to escape the effects of the radiation circulating around the northern climes.

Currently under wraps are plans to shift a bulk of the U.S. Air Force to the southern portion of the Asia-Pacific region.

Now that Myanmar is opening to the West, the United States is also eyeing new bases in that country, particularly in Naypyidaw, the new capital city that is said to be relatively safe from the northern hemisphere radiation.

On January 2, 2006, WMR reported: "Southeast Asian intelligence sources report that Burma's (Myanmar's) recent abrupt decision to move its capital from Rangoon (Yangon) to remote Pyinmana, 200 miles to the north, is a result of Chinese intelligence warnings to its Burmese allies about the effects of radiation resulting from a U.S. conventional or tactical nuclear attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. There is concern that a series of attacks on Iranian nuclear installations will create a Chernobyl-like radioactive cloud that would be caught up in monsoon weather in the Indian Ocean.

Low-lying Rangoon lies in the path of monsoon rains that would continue to carry radioactive fallout from Iran over South and Southeast Asia between May and October. Coastal Indian Ocean cities like Rangoon, Dhaka, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, and Colombo would be affected by the radioactive fallout more than higher elevation cities since humidity intensifies the effects of the fallout. Thousands of government workers were given only two days' notice to pack up and leave Rangoon for the higher (and dryer) mountainous Pyinmana.

New housing planned for some of the new U.S. military bases, said to be for rotating military personnel, will be sufficient to accommodate America's political, financial, and military leadership.

No less affected by the radiation from Fukushima, Canada has also announced plans to shift a large portion of its naval, air, and ground forces to the Southeast Asia region with Singapore being the "hub" for the Canadian military. Canadian Defense Minister Peter McKay toured a potential site for the Canadian military during his visit to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La meeting.

Although there is tension between the United States and China, our sources have indicated that confronting China's growing military presence in the region is merely a cover story designed to mask the abandonment of the northern hemisphere by the Pentagon. In fact, Chinese defense officials participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue.

WMR has learned that the recent agreement between the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Thailand to establish an atmospheric testing facility at U-Tapao Airport in Rayong is part of the Pentagon's evacuation plans. NASA is being used as a civilian "cover" by the Pentagon.

NASA's SEAC4RS program or Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study will use aircraft to sample air samples over Southeast Asia for radiation levels from weather patterns that could bring radioactive particles from the northern to southern hemisphere. Aircraft are due to be deployed from U-Tapao beginning in August. A senior Pentagon official met with Thai military Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimapakorn on June 4 to hammer out final details on the atmospheric testing to be carried out from U-Tapao. Responding to concerns by some Thai members of Parliament that the U-Tapao base has a military aspect, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaiku may have revealed the actual reason for the base when he stated that it's major purpose was to deal with "natural disasters."

In what amounts to an "On the Beach" scenario -- a reference to the 1960s movie that saw Australia as a temporary safe haven as a result of a nuclear war that killed off all life in the northerrn hemisphere -- the United States, Canada, and other countries are making preparations to re-locate their political and military elites and ample military forces to protect them to the safest zone from the Fukushima radiation -- Southeast Asia.

Madsen seems obsessed with radioactive fallout in the Northern Hemisphere. The idea that Rangoon wis dumped s the Capital city because of potential complications on a strike on Iranian Nuclear facilities is as ridiculous as the decision to move capital city itself. He paints a picture of Fukushima seriously contaminating the entire Northern half of the world. This is a guy who has written that there is a secret group within the NSA whose job it is to cover up the involvement of the US administration in 9/11 and that Blackwater have been carrying out false flag operations in Pakistan which have been blamed on the Taliban. I am unsure I can take anything he writes seriously.

[folium]

Madsen seems obsessed with radioactive fallout in the Northern Hemisphere. The idea that Rangoon wis dumped s the Capital city because of potential complications on a strike on Iranian Nuclear facilities is as ridiculous as the decision to move capital city itself. He paints a picture of Fukushima seriously contaminating the entire Northern half of the world. This is a guy who has written that there is a secret group within the NSA whose job it is to cover up the involvement of the US administration in 9/11 and that Blackwater have been carrying out false flag operations in Pakistan which have been blamed on the Taliban. I am unsure I can take anything he writes seriously.

Well at least we now know where some of the posters on TVF get their "info" from!!

[gand]

Whom should the Thai's fear more China or USA?

http://brontecapital.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/macroeconomics-of-chinese-kleptocracy.html

[bigbamboo]

All interesting stuff.... unless you're Miss Y, who won't have read or understood any of it but will be interested in the photo op.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Here is a completely different perspective from Wayne Madsen Report. Not saying I concur with the article... I have no idea... but it is an interesting perspective.

Wayne Madsen Report-

I wish you had not posted this insanity. It will take the thread completely off topic.

[simple1]

This The Nation point of view poorly articulates sweeping and delusional projections on global geopolitical issues as well as US election outcomes. The reality is that Thailand is merely a pawn in global affairs as another poster pointed out. As Thailand typically does, it attempts to maximize its financial gain and opportunity by compromising its own "strategic" benefit and making petty deals that can be maneuvered in and out of because they are nothing more than a "loose alliance" at the whims of those Thai politicians and elite business owners who benefit at the time. Purely monetray gain for a few versus benefit for the Thai people.

Take for example, last week in this same newspaper, an editorial was arguing fervently for saying no to U-Tapao for the Americans. The reality is that this is the right decision for the American people, but obviously according to this editorial today, Thailand should be and will be willing to "trade off" probably for some attractive financial cash flow as they did at the start of America's involvement in Vietnam.

This editorial states that the US and China are its main geopolitical/security alliances. Well who else would they contemplate aligning with? It's almost delusional writing by The Nation. Thailand's foreign policy management has been wishy washy to say the least for many years. The Thais saw no wisdom in trading with the west and it took gunboat diplomacy by the British 160 years ago to get them to agree to trade. Since then, the Thais have distanced themselves from the west and China at every opportunity to "maneuver" a deal without the sincerity of a true partnership. Try to play both sides against the middle in true Thai fashion.

In WWII, the Thais quickly turned their backs on the allies and caved in to the Japanese, and declared war on the United States and its allies. After taking their investment money for years after the war, now Thailand claims that Japan is a key economic alliance and PM Yingluck made a trip to pander to the Japanese that the Thais "were in control of water management" so that they had nothing to fear and would remain the largest investor in Thailand. Now this editorial ignores this important Thailand/Japan economic partnership and plays the US/China game while ignoring the importance of Japan, and tries to convince the world that they are a serious "reliable" partner with these ludicrous and delirious editorials that project preposterous moves and outcomes on the key players.

Did not know that the then Thai Govt declared war of the USA in WW2 so did a google search. I was surprised to see that Thai forces also attacked French Indochina and culminated in an invasion of Laos and Cambodia in January 1941.

[edko]

I just read an article about Madsen written by what seemed to be another conspiracy theorist; evidently Madsen believes that Obama was CIA, spent 1981-1983 in Afghanistan and also involved somehow with BCCI, Bill & Hil and Whitewater too! His mother was CIA and both of her parents also as well as his Indonesian step-father. I was going to forward the editorial and the copied text from Madsen's report posted by Nana Foods until I remembered that my son-in-law gets pissed at me when I send him links to unvetted news sources.

Sorry, but considering the source, both Madsen and Madsen's article do not pass the smell test.

Edited June 11, 2012 by edko

[folium]

This The Nation point of view poorly articulates sweeping and delusional projections on global geopolitical issues as well as US election outcomes. The reality is that Thailand is merely a pawn in global affairs as another poster pointed out. As Thailand typically does, it attempts to maximize its financial gain and opportunity by compromising its own "strategic" benefit and making petty deals that can be maneuvered in and out of because they are nothing more than a "loose alliance" at the whims of those Thai politicians and elite business owners who benefit at the time. Purely monetray gain for a few versus benefit for the Thai people.

Take for example, last week in this same newspaper, an editorial was arguing fervently for saying no to U-Tapao for the Americans. The reality is that this is the right decision for the American people, but obviously according to this editorial today, Thailand should be and will be willing to "trade off" probably for some attractive financial cash flow as they did at the start of America's involvement in Vietnam.

This editorial states that the US and China are its main geopolitical/security alliances. Well who else would they contemplate aligning with? It's almost delusional writing by The Nation. Thailand's foreign policy management has been wishy washy to say the least for many years. The Thais saw no wisdom in trading with the west and it took gunboat diplomacy by the British 160 years ago to get them to agree to trade. Since then, the Thais have distanced themselves from the west and China at every opportunity to "maneuver" a deal without the sincerity of a true partnership. Try to play both sides against the middle in true Thai fashion.

In WWII, the Thais quickly turned their backs on the allies and caved in to the Japanese, and declared war on the United States and its allies. After taking their investment money for years after the war, now Thailand claims that Japan is a key economic alliance and PM Yingluck made a trip to pander to the Japanese that the Thais "were in control of water management" so that they had nothing to fear and would remain the largest investor in Thailand. Now this editorial ignores this important Thailand/Japan economic partnership and plays the US/China game while ignoring the importance of Japan, and tries to convince the world that they are a serious "reliable" partner with these ludicrous and delirious editorials that project preposterous moves and outcomes on the key players.

Did not know that the then Thai Govt declared war of the USA in WW2 so did a google search. I was surprised to see that Thai forces also attacked French Indochina and culminated in an invasion of Laos and Cambodia in January 1941.

Get hold of Bruce Reynolds' fantastic book "Thailand's Secret War" for some real eye-opening stuff on this period of "forgotten" Thai history.

[crobe]

What a piece of absolute bull this supposed "article" is, it is full of unfounded speculations and errors.

To say that it is "unlikely" that Obama will lose the November election at this stage is either facetious or the author has a crystal ball that the American electorate do not have access to - as I believe the polling is currently neck-and-neck.

The paragraph on NASA is littered with factual errors

"The request by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or Nasa, to use U-Tapao as a meteorology centre is a new one."

No - it is not, it was made 18 months ago to the Abhisit government

"Although Thai agencies including the Royal Rainmaking Project discussed this weather-monitoring proposal with Nasa officials a while ago, they have not yet made any public announcement"

Again - no they haven't - the main agency in this area is GISTDA who have not been consulted, and NASA has not made direct representations outside of the government interface

"Once the news made headlines, it immediately stirred up deep-seated suspicions among Thais and other countries as to its "real intent and purpose".

No it didn't - an editorial in the nation stirred up false suspicions in order to sell news copy.

"This kind of bilateral non-traditional security cooperation has been previously conducted with Japan, Hong Kong and other countries. But they are not the US"

No - similar scientific co-operation has been conducted with Japan, Taiwan, China, S. Korea, some European institutes, and previously with the US - but all of these were not security co-operations, purely scientific.

"The proposed operations would take place over two-month periods beginning in August"

No - the proposed campaign would take place only after agreement from the Thai authorities and ideally outside of the rainy season so that the results from the atmospheric testing have less risk of disruption

As I read the rest of the article I got more and more frustrated with the standard of journalism here, if they wanted to comment and have an opinion, at least base it on some scientific fact, or do the job properly and contact the institutes in Thailand (GISTDA etc) or interview people outside Thailand who have previously participated to these campaigns...

Lazy journalism from an op-ed idiot

Crobe

[how241]

This The Nation point of view poorly articulates sweeping and delusional projections on global geopolitical issues as well as US election outcomes. The reality is that Thailand is merely a pawn in global affairs as another poster pointed out. As Thailand typically does, it attempts to maximize its financial gain and opportunity by compromising its own "strategic" benefit and making petty deals that can be maneuvered in and out of because they are nothing more than a "loose alliance" at the whims of those Thai politicians and elite business owners who benefit at the time. Purely monetray gain for a few versus benefit for the Thai people.

Take for example, last week in this same newspaper, an editorial was arguing fervently for saying no to U-Tapao for the Americans. The reality is that this is the right decision for the American people, but obviously according to this editorial today, Thailand should be and will be willing to "trade off" probably for some attractive financial cash flow as they did at the start of America's involvement in Vietnam.

This editorial states that the US and China are its main geopolitical/security alliances. Well who else would they contemplate aligning with? It's almost delusional writing by The Nation. Thailand's foreign policy management has been wishy washy to say the least for many years. The Thais saw no wisdom in trading with the west and it took gunboat diplomacy by the British 160 years ago to get them to agree to trade. Since then, the Thais have distanced themselves from the west and China at every opportunity to "maneuver" a deal without the sincerity of a true partnership. Try to play both sides against the middle in true Thai fashion.

In WWII, the Thais quickly turned their backs on the allies and caved in to the Japanese, and declared war on the United States and its allies. After taking their investment money for years after the war, now Thailand claims that Japan is a key economic alliance and PM Yingluck made a trip to pander to the Japanese that the Thais "were in control of water management" so that they had nothing to fear and would remain the largest investor in Thailand. Now this editorial ignores this important Thailand/Japan economic partnership and plays the US/China game while ignoring the importance of Japan, and tries to convince the world that they are a serious "reliable" partner with these ludicrous and delirious editorials that project preposterous moves and outcomes on the key players.

Interesting points you have made.

[MILT]

This The Nation point of view poorly articulates sweeping and delusional projections on global geopolitical issues as well as US election outcomes. The reality is that Thailand is merely a pawn in global affairs as another poster pointed out. As Thailand typically does, it attempts to maximize its financial gain and opportunity by compromising its own "strategic" benefit and making petty deals that can be maneuvered in and out of because they are nothing more than a "loose alliance" at the whims of those Thai politicians and elite business owners who benefit at the time. Purely monetray gain for a few versus benefit for the Thai people.

Take for example, last week in this same newspaper, an editorial was arguing fervently for saying no to U-Tapao for the Americans. The reality is that this is the right decision for the American people, but obviously according to this editorial today, Thailand should be and will be willing to "trade off" probably for some attractive financial cash flow as they did at the start of America's involvement in Vietnam.

This editorial states that the US and China are its main geopolitical/security alliances. Well who else would they contemplate aligning with? It's almost delusional writing by The Nation. Thailand's foreign policy management has been wishy washy to say the least for many years. The Thais saw no wisdom in trading with the west and it took gunboat diplomacy by the British 160 years ago to get them to agree to trade. Since then, the Thais have distanced themselves from the west and China at every opportunity to "maneuver" a deal without the sincerity of a true partnership. Try to play both sides against the middle in true Thai fashion.

In WWII, the Thais quickly turned their backs on the allies and caved in to the Japanese, and declared war on the United States and its allies. After taking their investment money for years after the war, now Thailand claims that Japan is a key economic alliance and PM Yingluck made a trip to pander to the Japanese that the Thais "were in control of water management" so that they had nothing to fear and would remain the largest investor in Thailand. Now this editorial ignores this important Thailand/Japan economic partnership and plays the US/China game while ignoring the importance of Japan, and tries to convince the world that they are a serious "reliable" partner with these ludicrous and delirious editorials that project preposterous moves and outcomes on the key players.

Are you saying that Thailand declared war on the US? Or did I read that wrong.

[EvilDrSomkid]

What a piece of absolute bull this supposed "article" is, it is full of unfounded speculations and errors.

To say that it is "unlikely" that Obama will lose the November election at this stage is either facetious or the author has a crystal ball that the American electorate do not have access to - as I believe the polling is currently neck-and-neck.

The paragraph on NASA is littered with factual errors

"The request by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or Nasa, to use U-Tapao as a meteorology centre is a new one."

No - it is not, it was made 18 months ago to the Abhisit government

"Although Thai agencies including the Royal Rainmaking Project discussed this weather-monitoring proposal with Nasa officials a while ago, they have not yet made any public announcement"

Again - no they haven't - the main agency in this area is GISTDA who have not been consulted, and NASA has not made direct representations outside of the government interface

"Once the news made headlines, it immediately stirred up deep-seated suspicions among Thais and other countries as to its "real intent and purpose".

No it didn't - an editorial in the nation stirred up false suspicions in order to sell news copy.

"This kind of bilateral non-traditional security cooperation has been previously conducted with Japan, Hong Kong and other countries. But they are not the US"

No - similar scientific co-operation has been conducted with Japan, Taiwan, China, S. Korea, some European institutes, and previously with the US - but all of these were not security co-operations, purely scientific.

"The proposed operations would take place over two-month periods beginning in August"

No - the proposed campaign would take place only after agreement from the Thai authorities and ideally outside of the rainy season so that the results from the atmospheric testing have less risk of disruption

As I read the rest of the article I got more and more frustrated with the standard of journalism here, if they wanted to comment and have an opinion, at least base it on some scientific fact, or do the job properly and contact the institutes in Thailand (GISTDA etc) or interview people outside Thailand who have previously participated to these campaigns...

Lazy journalism from an op-ed idiot

Crobe

That is a good analysis and rebuttal. Thanks.

As information not specifically pointed at you, crobe: it was Phibun who let in the Japanese during WWII. Phibun strongly sympathized with Fascism.

The populace of Thailand had no say. The ones than knew where generally against it. Of course, most Thais don't know this today, even if they live in Kanchanaburi. It was another period of shame for Thailand.

[folium]

Are you saying that Thailand declared war on the US? Or did I read that wrong.

Please tell me you are kidding or did you go to school in Thailand?!

[SunSeek01]

The notion that Obama might win is far fetched at best. The mainstream media which is full of liberal arts majors from liberal arts colleges can't stand to think that he may not win but even before the Wisconsin landslide last week, Romney is a shoe in. If you see polls to the contrary, look to the source and it will be either Time, CNN/ORC, or some other liberal outlet.

That being said, I would surely think it's better to be aligned with the US, broke as we are, than a communist regime even if they are the biggest. Who wants to be a commie, not me !

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Madsen seems obsessed with radioactive fallout in the Northern Hemisphere. The idea that Rangoon wis dumped s the Capital city because of potential complications on a strike on Iranian Nuclear facilities is as ridiculous as the decision to move capital city itself. He paints a picture of Fukushima seriously contaminating the entire Northern half of the world. This is a guy who has written that there is a secret group within the NSA whose job it is to cover up the involvement of the US administration in 9/11 and that Blackwater have been carrying out false flag operations in Pakistan which have been blamed on the Taliban. I am unsure I can take anything he writes seriously.

While I'm completely skeptical of the Madsen piece wrt radiation, both the other points you raise seem completely possible to me.

Who would have thought in the late sixties that the CIA was hiring hookers to lure US citizens to be doped with LSD without their knowledge?

[GentlemanJim]

Madsen seems obsessed with radioactive fallout in the Northern Hemisphere. The idea that Rangoon wis dumped s the Capital city because of potential complications on a strike on Iranian Nuclear facilities is as ridiculous as the decision to move capital city itself. He paints a picture of Fukushima seriously contaminating the entire Northern half of the world. This is a guy who has written that there is a secret group within the NSA whose job it is to cover up the involvement of the US administration in 9/11 and that Blackwater have been carrying out false flag operations in Pakistan which have been blamed on the Taliban. I am unsure I can take anything he writes seriously.

While I'm completely skeptical of the Madsen piece wrt radiation, both the other points you raise seem completely possible to me.

Who would have thought in the late sixties that the CIA was hiring hookers to lure US citizens to be doped with LSD without their knowledge?

You may have a point Johnny but I thought going down that path even a little would have taken us a 1000 miles off track on this thread

[simple1]

This The Nation point of view poorly articulates sweeping and delusional projections on global geopolitical issues as well as US election outcomes. The reality is that Thailand is merely a pawn in global affairs as another poster pointed out. As Thailand typically does, it attempts to maximize its financial gain and opportunity by compromising its own "strategic" benefit and making petty deals that can be maneuvered in and out of because they are nothing more than a "loose alliance" at the whims of those Thai politicians and elite business owners who benefit at the time. Purely monetray gain for a few versus benefit for the Thai people.

Take for example, last week in this same newspaper, an editorial was arguing fervently for saying no to U-Tapao for the Americans. The reality is that this is the right decision for the American people, but obviously according to this editorial today, Thailand should be and will be willing to "trade off" probably for some attractive financial cash flow as they did at the start of America's involvement in Vietnam.

This editorial states that the US and China are its main geopolitical/security alliances. Well who else would they contemplate aligning with? It's almost delusional writing by The Nation. Thailand's foreign policy management has been wishy washy to say the least for many years. The Thais saw no wisdom in trading with the west and it took gunboat diplomacy by the British 160 years ago to get them to agree to trade. Since then, the Thais have distanced themselves from the west and China at every opportunity to "maneuver" a deal without the sincerity of a true partnership. Try to play both sides against the middle in true Thai fashion.

In WWII, the Thais quickly turned their backs on the allies and caved in to the Japanese, and declared war on the United States and its allies. After taking their investment money for years after the war, now Thailand claims that Japan is a key economic alliance and PM Yingluck made a trip to pander to the Japanese that the Thais "were in control of water management" so that they had nothing to fear and would remain the largest investor in Thailand. Now this editorial ignores this important Thailand/Japan economic partnership and plays the US/China game while ignoring the importance of Japan, and tries to convince the world that they are a serious "reliable" partner with these ludicrous and delirious editorials that project preposterous moves and outcomes on the key players.

Are you saying that Thailand declared war on the US? Or did I read that wrong.

Yes I was surprised as well, but here's a link that gives the info... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_Thailand

[folium]

Yes I was surprised as well, but here's a link that gives the info... http://en.wikipedia....ion_of_Thailand

The Wikipedia entry rather overstates the Free Thai forces which had an active element of at most 9-10,000. It also omits mention of the role of Force 136 (the UK equivalent of OSS).

Basically Thailand took WW2 as a great opportunity to strike back at the colonial powers that had been whittling away at Thai territory over the preceeding 60 years. Hence they joined with the Japanese to invade Burma and Malaya to take control of the Shan States and northern Malay provinces. They had also seized much of NW Cambodia and all French territory west of the Mekong following the Thai-Vichy French war of 1940. All had to be returned at the end of the war.

At the end of the war OSS strove to ensure that reparations were not inflicted on the Thais nor that the British were to maintain their occupation for any length of time. One of the points of contention concerning the British occupying troops was their racial composition. The Thai stated preference was for American troops, then white British, Indians, Africans and Chinese, a Colonel Khunchon in the Thai embassy in Washington DC charmingly stated: "due to the our dislike of Indians even American negro troops would be preferable". The Brits promptly sent the 2nd Indian Division into Thailand!

Edited June 11, 2012 by folium