Joint Thai-U S Military Partnership Signed

[webfact]

Joint Thai-US military partnership signed

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 16 – Thailand and the US have finally signed a joint vision statement for a new defence alliance between the two countries.

Thai defence minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said after the signing ceremony with his US counterpart Leon E. Panetta that the 2012 Joint VIsion Statement for the Thai-US Defence Alliance focuses on a partnership for security in Southeast Asia, promotion of stability in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening of efficiency in bilateral and multilateral operations, and development of cooperation on all levels.

He ruled out any discussion on the highly-criticised request by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use Thailand’s U-tapao airport in Sattahip for its atmospheric studies.

NASA made the request once but cancelled its plan in June when the government could not make a decision in time for the mission.

ACM Sukumpol added that Myanmar has been invited to observe the Thai-US Cobra Gold joint military exercise next year after a proposal from Thailand. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-16

[webfact]

RT @KristieKenney: Behind the scenes: SecDef says farewell to Bangkok http://instagr.am/p/SEw5KbimTU/

[OzMick]

I'm sure that millions of Americans will sleep better tonight knowing they now have the military might of Thailand to protect them.

[keemapoot]

This looks like a pretty big change of focus of U.S. military presence, and will result in saving a lot of money too, resulting in a leaner and meaner military globally.

The new strategy adopted by the Defense Department in January called for a shift in strategic focus to the Asia-Pacific region, with the removal of some military units from Europe and more rotational deployments by U.S.-based troops to both Europe and Asia.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has been working to implement the strategy over the past year, traveling to Asia four times and bolstering military ties with countries from Japan to Australia and New Zealand.

A group of national security experts on Thursday proposed a new U.S.defense strategy they said could be safely implemented at different budget levels, enabling President Barack Obama to cut Pentagon spending by more than the $487 billion agreed to so far.

http://news.yahoo.co...-005632003.html

[noitom]

I'm sure that millions of Americans will sleep better tonight knowing they now have the military might of Thailand to protect them.

Yes, and at US taxpayer expense. It's a certainty that "extra" cash changed hands.

[4evermaat]

i'm sure some of the USA sailors will be happy when the pull into port.

[Skywalker69]

i'm sure some of the USA sailors will be happy when the pull into port.

Yes but for a different reason.

[keemapoot]

i'm sure some of the USA sailors will be happy when the pull into port.

Yes but for a different reason.

Are there places you can "pull" at the port?

Edited November 16, 2012 by keemapoot

[Payboy]

I'm sure that millions of Americans will sleep better tonight knowing they now have the military might of Thailand to protect them.

And a lot of them will look forward to visiting Taipei soon.

[AngryParent]

And, next week's news: Joint Thai-Chinese military partnership signed

[ratcatcher]

And, next week's news: Joint Thai-Chinese military partnership signed

And next year's news :

U.S. and Chinese carrier strike groups anchored off Pattaya Bay.

Edited November 16, 2012 by ratcatcher

[asiawatcher]

Can anyone find out exactly what Thailand and the US are supposed to be defending or is that about as awkward as the issue of NASA and Utapao?

[sunshine51]

Can anyone find out exactly what Thailand and the US are supposed to be defending or is that about as awkward as the issue of NASA and Utapao?

Same-same...only different.

[Thai at Heart]

Can anyone find out exactly what Thailand and the US are supposed to be defending or is that about as awkward as the issue of NASA and Utapao?

Same-same...only different.

The gulf and the straits of Singapore from complete Chinese strategic domination?

[sunshine51]

Can anyone find out exactly what Thailand and the US are supposed to be defending or is that about as awkward as the issue of NASA and Utapao?

Same-same...only different.

The gulf and the straits of Singapore from complete Chinese strategic domination?

Yeah...that and the clump of little islands in the South China Sea everybody seems

to be having a go at these days....and quite possibly just to be a stick in the eye

of China should the Chinese actually try to "do" Taiwan and anywhere else in

this quadrant of Earth. Kinda like a couple of "studs" posturing in front of a cute

bar girl......same same...bit different.....

[Thai at Heart]

Can anyone find out exactly what Thailand and the US are supposed to be defending or is that about as awkward as the issue of NASA and Utapao?

Same-same...only different.

The gulf and the straits of Singapore from complete Chinese strategic domination?

Yeah...that and the clump of little islands in the South China Sea everybody seems

to be having a go at these days....and quite possibly just to be a stick in the eye

of China should the Chinese actually try to "do" Taiwan and anywhere else in

this quadrant of Earth. Kinda like a couple of "studs" posturing in front of a cute

bar girl......same same...bit different.....

Well scrapping over the Spratly for oil is one thing. But, essentially the USA could enbargo all shipping by closing the straits and off japan.

Forget taiwan. The Chinese would overrun it in no time, if they wanted to.

[sunshine51]

@[email protected] outta quotes....

True...however CW says Japan would also get involved and the TW-US defense

pact would come into play not to mention the JPN-US defense pact and this could

cause a very nasty situation out here regardless of the Thai-US defense pact. There's

a lotta possible scenarios T@H. One is that if China feels squeezed, by the Straits

being closed they'd retaliate by sinking carriers out here...things would escalate

quickly. The Chinese are hell bent on getting energy resources no matter what the

cost. I hope they can look ahead of their noses and realise if they flex muscles

a bit too hard...let's not go there ok.

[DP25]

Forget taiwan. The Chinese would overrun it in no time, if they wanted to.

The Chinese could over run Taiwan, if they were able to run there. Since they have to swim, sail, or fly, they stand no chance if the US wanted to stop them.

[Thai at Heart]

@[email protected] outta quotes....

True...however CW says Japan would also get involved and the TW-US defense

pact would come into play not to mention the JPN-US defense pact and this could

cause a very nasty situation out here regardless of the Thai-US defense pact. There's

a lotta possible scenarios T@H. One is that if China feels squeezed, by the Straits

being closed they'd retaliate by sinking carriers out here...things would escalate

quickly. The Chinese are hell bent on getting energy resources no matter what the

cost. I hope they can look ahead of their noses and realise if they flex muscles

a bit too hard...let's not go there ok.

It will never happen precisely because if these strategic alliances. It would escalate too quickly to something so big, that neither side presses the button.

MAD without nuclear intervention. let's hope people stay where the are.

[Thai at Heart]

Joint Thai-US military partnership signed

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 16 – Thailand and the US have finally signed a joint vision statement for a new defence alliance between the two countries.

Thai defence minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said after the signing ceremony with his US counterpart Leon E. Panetta that the 2012 Joint VIsion Statement for the Thai-US Defence Alliance focuses on a partnership for security in Southeast Asia, promotion of stability in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening of efficiency in bilateral and multilateral operations, and development of cooperation on all levels.

He ruled out any discussion on the highly-criticised request by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use Thailand’s U-tapao airport in Sattahip for its atmospheric studies.

NASA made the request once but cancelled its plan in June when the government could not make a decision in time for the mission.

ACM Sukumpol added that Myanmar has been invited to observe the Thai-US Cobra Gold joint military exercise next year after a proposal from Thailand. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-16

Love the foam cut out signage like a cheap wedding. is this obsession with foam signage an exclusively Thai thing? Can't they make a banner?

[Hugo6]

I'm sure that millions of Americans will sleep better tonight knowing they now have the military might of Thailand to protect them.

Yes, and at US taxpayer expense. It's a certainty that "extra" cash changed hands.

what kind of stupid comments are these : taxpayer expense, extra cash and defending the us?

they signed a document that just says how they will work better together.

what? you want the us to just sail back home and not spend any "taxpayer money" on maintaining their national interests or working better together with allies?

the us does what it darn well pleases and what it thinks is in its national interest, and sometimes it even makes sense.

[Hugo6]

Joint Thai-US military partnership signed

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 16 – Thailand and the US have finally signed a joint vision statement for a new defence alliance between the two countries.

Thai defence minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said after the signing ceremony with his US counterpart Leon E. Panetta that the 2012 Joint VIsion Statement for the Thai-US Defence Alliance focuses on a partnership for security in Southeast Asia, promotion of stability in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening of efficiency in bilateral and multilateral operations, and development of cooperation on all levels.

He ruled out any discussion on the highly-criticised request by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use Thailand's U-tapao airport in Sattahip for its atmospheric studies.

NASA made the request once but cancelled its plan in June when the government could not make a decision in time for the mission.

ACM Sukumpol added that Myanmar has been invited to observe the Thai-US Cobra Gold joint military exercise next year after a proposal from Thailand. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-16

Love the foam cut out signage like a cheap wedding. is this obsession with foam signage an exclusively Thai thing? Can't they make a banner?

I don't know, looks ok to me. It's a one day thing.

bet neither the cutout nor the banner would be recyclable

[Thai at Heart]

Joint Thai-US military partnership signed

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 16 – Thailand and the US have finally signed a joint vision statement for a new defence alliance between the two countries.

Thai defence minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said after the signing ceremony with his US counterpart Leon E. Panetta that the 2012 Joint VIsion Statement for the Thai-US Defence Alliance focuses on a partnership for security in Southeast Asia, promotion of stability in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening of efficiency in bilateral and multilateral operations, and development of cooperation on all levels.

He ruled out any discussion on the highly-criticised request by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use Thailand's U-tapao airport in Sattahip for its atmospheric studies.

NASA made the request once but cancelled its plan in June when the government could not make a decision in time for the mission.

ACM Sukumpol added that Myanmar has been invited to observe the Thai-US Cobra Gold joint military exercise next year after a proposal from Thailand. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-16

Love the foam cut out signage like a cheap wedding. is this obsession with foam signage an exclusively Thai thing? Can't they make a banner?

I don't know, looks ok to me. It's a one day thing.

bet neither the cutout nor the banner would be recyclable

Looks naff to me.

I reckon it's so dodgy men have a plausible alibi. But honey, look at the picture.

I mean honestly, for who's benefit is it?

[Hugo6]

Joint Thai-US military partnership signed

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 16 – Thailand and the US have finally signed a joint vision statement for a new defence alliance between the two countries.

Thai defence minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said after the signing ceremony with his US counterpart Leon E. Panetta that the 2012 Joint VIsion Statement for the Thai-US Defence Alliance focuses on a partnership for security in Southeast Asia, promotion of stability in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening of efficiency in bilateral and multilateral operations, and development of cooperation on all levels.

He ruled out any discussion on the highly-criticised request by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use Thailand's U-tapao airport in Sattahip for its atmospheric studies.

NASA made the request once but cancelled its plan in June when the government could not make a decision in time for the mission.

ACM Sukumpol added that Myanmar has been invited to observe the Thai-US Cobra Gold joint military exercise next year after a proposal from Thailand. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-16

Love the foam cut out signage like a cheap wedding. is this obsession with foam signage an exclusively Thai thing? Can't they make a banner?

I don't know, looks ok to me. It's a one day thing.

bet neither the cutout nor the banner would be recyclable

Looks naff to me.

I reckon it's so dodgy men have a plausible alibi. But honey, look at the picture.

I mean honestly, for who's benefit is it?

naff?

honestly, who needs the sign anyway. I mean really. I know that it's not a big deal but they could have just pulled a couple of large flags out of the closet as a backdrop and been done with it.

[Thai at Heart]

@Hugo

Exactly. All that work for zilch.

Put up the flags. Job done.

Edited November 16, 2012 by Thai at Heart

[JeffreyWitty]

Can anyone find out exactly what Thailand and the US are supposed to be defending or is that about as awkward as the issue of NASA and Utapao?

Sure - I can tell you. This is my own personnal experience as a soldier (now a veteran) who has been to couple Cobra Gold exercises. What did I do when I was serving? I was a intelligence analyst.

When having the exercise - the scenario we played out was based on "an aggressive force" invading the Phillipines. US and Thai forces simulating coming to their aid. The aggressive force was always called "Orangeland". I my peronal opinion (MINE ALONE!) - "Orangeland" was a combination of (old style) Empirial Japanese, North Korea, and (old hardline comunist) China armies.

What do I now? I am a software engineer and work daily with the MI troops over in South Korea. Most exercises in the PACRIM are geared to simulate one asian neighbor beating up on another - cause they have a tendancy to do that - historically speaking.

Don't believe me? Ask Japan, the Phillipines, North Korea, Russia, and South Korea about China's resent island grabbing moves. They guys are always fighting with each other about control over islands.