The US is not biased: US State Department; Thai-US relations

[kamahele]

someone in government told my wife that the current Thai administration has defaulted on some kind of loan made by the US to Thailand

they have not paid anything for 5 months

maybe that's why they are so interested in the situation and support Yingluck

they want to get paid.....

I doubt that the US has so much concern over a loan that it would take sides in the current situation. I think the US is more likely concerned with AID money than with loan money. As a democratic government, the US must quite frankly support the current government whether it owes money or not.

[Old Man River]

The statement does not mention the now caretaker government at all. Before I remember they did mention the "elected government".

Means they accept the possibility of it being gone at some point. Of course they will then befriend the new government, whatever signature it has. After all geopolitics say Thailand is the last stand against islam in the region.

That's incredibly wishful thinking and hardly geopolitically aware. Thailand is not regarded as "the last stand against Islam" in the region. Where do you get that from? It fits neither with US policy nor with reality. Thailand is useful as a voice in the US drive to contain China but it's politically unacceptable for Obama to seen to be coddling an aspiring despot like Suthep. SEA is an incredibly important region for the US but it's a region where the democratic process is paramount - hence the support for Indonesia in the last decade. The very last thing the US wants or needs a country like Thailand ruled by an appointed council as touted by the dim Suthep.

Quite agree..in what you saying

You are discussing political acceptance. Politically acceptable, I would agree, but the world isn't based on what is politically acceptable. Religious issues aside, albeit it an issue, China is the gorilla. It is the gorilla in Asia, in Africa etc.

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[kikoman]

From day one the USA has made it clear it supports the elected government. That was the appropriate response at the time and its position has not changed. I very much doubt that the Suthep antics are high on the Washington agenda. They support the status quo.

Nonsense. Show us all the links to where the USA has specifically supported Yingluck, Thaksin or PTP.

The USA has quite rightly supported freedom of expression, freedom of protest, democracy and the rule of law. The last to are unfortunately sadly missing from Thai politics.

The USA has also quite rightly appealed for non violence, and for resolution through dialogue.

All the pro-PTP sympathizer like to pretend, just like No.1 cousin, that the words the USA and other foreign governments say can be interpreted how they want.

On the other hand ,why do you not show us any specific links where the U.S. states it does not support the elected government.

On where they state they support an appointed counsel in a Democratic country, or that they support the right of protesters to block other citizen's constitutional right to vote, no matter what color shirt you wear!

The Suthep Sympathizers, believe all country's do not have a clue to what is going on in Thailand , A naked grab for power by the rich elite, that is incapable of winning a free, open, fair election!

Cheers

[Torrens54]

Who in their right mind would take any notice of "Bumbling Obama" he can't run his own country, can't run "Obama Care" allows his Diplomatic Staff to be Murdered and the tries to blame it on a stupid movie. Waffles on about, "Make no mistake...bla, bla, bla those responsible will be brought to justice."........ Big question is, WHEN???

The Guy is a very bad joke on the world stage and needs to keep his nose out of Thailand. Just have a look at FOX News out of the US and you'll find out what a fool Obama is.

[BeforeTigers]

Probably a very small percentage of the "whole world" even knows where Thailand is much less care what's happening here.

The US will buddy buddy up to whoever comes out on top.

Exactly.

People have deep misconceptions about the American psyche.

The average American doesn't give 1/100th of 1 sh*t what goes on in Thailand. And by extension, neither do the politicians.

America wants a stable trading partner.

No more and no less.

To be prefectly honest I don't see why this message is stirring up so much hatred.

Have to wonder what possible combination of words could Obama have said that would not bring out the knee-jerk haters.

[samuidave]

Probably a very small percentage of the "whole world" even knows where Thailand is much less care what's happening here.

The US will buddy buddy up to whoever comes out on top.

The entire story is as hypocritical as it comes.

The US foreign policy which is bent on policing and controlling the entire planet as directed by the CFR, Bilderberg Group and the BIS, is consistently meddling in other nations' political matters by arming and financing the violent forces used against the people; constantly at war in two, three or more different capacities with some other nation in order to protect its "interests"; and without fail supporting any totalitarian leader it can be in cahoots with IF it means the US interests are advanced. "He may be an <deleted>, but he's our <deleted>" has been the US mantra involving foreign thugs running their little fiefdoms for decades.

In short, the US has no international buddies, only interests, and it will turn a blind eye or help cover-up the worst human rights atrocities imaginable if it puts a buck in their pocket.

The USA is not waiting to see who comes out on top. The USA is directing events through Thaksin as its political proxy in SE Asia.

[BeforeTigers]

Probably a very small percentage of the "whole world" even knows where Thailand is much less care what's happening here.

The US will buddy buddy up to whoever comes out on top.

The entire story is as hypocritical as it comes.

The US foreign policy which is bent on policing and controlling the entire planet as directed by the CFR, Bilderberg Group and the BIS, is consistently meddling in other nations' political matters by arming and financing the violent forces used against the people; constantly at war in two, three or more different capacities with some other nation in order to protect its "interests"; and without fail supporting any totalitarian leader it can be in cahoots with IF it means the US interests are advanced. "He may be an asshol_e, but he's our asshol_e" has been the US mantra involving foreign thugs running their little fiefdoms for decades.

In short, the US has no international buddies, only interests, and it will turn a blind eye or help cover-up the worst human rights atrocities imaginable if it puts a buck in their pocket.

The USA is not waiting to see who comes out on top. The USA is directing events through Thaksin as its political proxy in SE Asia.

So how long have you been working in the Pentagon?

Or was it CIA?

Aren't you worried they'll pick you up for passing out secrets which you clearly must have gotten from a high security clearance

Cus, I mean, how else would you know the internal motivations of individual humans at the top of politics inside America?

Your description, though no one could say it is entirely a fantasy, sure as hell does sound like an unimaginative caricature of the bad guys in some cheesy action film.

My personal favorite was the part where you anthropomorphized foreign policy and siad it a bad friend. heh

Silly.

Edited January 27, 2014 by BeforeTigers

[NovaBlue05]

someone in government told my wife that the current Thai administration has defaulted on some kind of loan made by the US to Thailand

they have not paid anything for 5 months

maybe that's why they are so interested in the situation and support Yingluck

they want to get paid.....

The way the US Government pi$$es away money, I doubt they even remember some token loan made to a banana republic

[samuidave]

I'm sure Americans are appalled at seeing voting precincts blocked. A reminder of their not too distant past. If it happened today, not only would police break up any protest, but voters themselves would attack!

When someone breaks the law in the US, and works outside Wall Street and Hollywood, the domestic armed forces will stop at nothing in apprehending the suspects.

Does anyone remember the final chase in the movie the Blues Brothers? "Unnecessary violence in apprehending Elwood and Jake Blues has been approved."

NOT sure where you are going here, but in America they don't block voting precincts, they just don't have you registered or allow you to cast your vote because you are black and in a swing district. Vote rigging is rampant in the USA.

Between the electronic counting machines, chads, the non-registration of constituents, and the trusty ol' US Supreme Court -- which decides insanely "let's not continue to count the votes because if we did Dubya won't be elected". I shit you not. That is EXACTLY how the USA runs its fraudulent elections.

Here in Thailand they typically try to monetarily bribe the constituents. In America the propaganda machine captures their minds so they think one whitewashed Mafia Don is somehow better than the other.

[Scarpolo]

did they mention the Black Panthers scaring off old white people in important districts to make sure Obama won them?

lets correct some replies and point made so far in this thread

The US has never made a statement that mentions the Government

When they refer to peaceful and none violent they are talking about all concerned

The Violence is an obvious one - guns grenades injuries and murder - not blowing whistles

I agree that blocking voters was not the right thing for the protestors to do - but then there have been many things over the last 2 years that were also very wrong

[samuidave]

Probably a very small percentage of the "whole world" even knows where Thailand is much less care what's happening here.

The US will buddy buddy up to whoever comes out on top.

The entire story is as hypocritical as it comes.

The US foreign policy which is bent on policing and controlling the entire planet as directed by the CFR, Bilderberg Group and the BIS, is consistently meddling in other nations' political matters by arming and financing the violent forces used against the people; constantly at war in two, three or more different capacities with some other nation in order to protect its "interests"; and without fail supporting any totalitarian leader it can be in cahoots with IF it means the US interests are advanced. "He may be an asshol_e, but he's our asshol_e" has been the US mantra involving foreign thugs running their little fiefdoms for decades.

In short, the US has no international buddies, only interests, and it will turn a blind eye or help cover-up the worst human rights atrocities imaginable if it puts a buck in their pocket.

The USA is not waiting to see who comes out on top. The USA is directing events through Thaksin as its political proxy in SE Asia.

So how long have you been working in the Pentagon?

Or was it CIA?

Aren't you worried they'll pick you up for passing out secrets which you clearly must have gotten from a high security clearance

Cus, I mean, how else would you know the internal motivations of individual humans at the top of politics inside America?

Your description, though no one could say it is entirely a fantasy, sure as hell does sound like an unimaginative caricature of the bad guys in some cheesy action film.

My personal favorite was the part where you anthropomorphized foreign policy and siad it a bad friend. heh

Silly.

It's called reading and an education, both formal and autodidactic. You could start with William Blum.

[CIHUAHUA]

The real joke is the inability of these self-proclaimed educated protesters to understand why the whole world is appalled and finds abhorrent their actions, not just this weekend, but in the weeks leading up to this. Suthep's letter to Obama underlined this mental chasm and must have caused guffaws in DC for the moment it was distributed before being binned.

I think that nobody read his letter.

[CIHUAHUA]

The Yanks will go with anyone who backs the TPP

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My guess is that those who are under the queen will also.

[Scarpolo]

The US isn't following anything closely, unless they are talking about the citizens of the USA thdy plan to round up and put in concentration camps, fondly called FEMA camps. The US has no concern for its own people, surely not that of the Thai's. If that was so, why can't the regular Thai get a Visa to the USA and why does the Thai gov't force US citizens out of the country every 6 months;

yeah right, they care about people,

Thailand is a Chinese protectorate in almost every way possible now:

the USA has no influence just Naval and Air Force presense, which will sometime chemtrail at night, when no one is watching

That's a joke. Just look what side they are on in the Ukraine protests. Those protesters are doing the same things the protesters here are doing, except taking it further. When they storm a government ministry, they don't just hand out letters and flowers, they stay there and take over.

[Scarpolo]

did you say the US oesnt block voting preciencts?

you are apparently unaware of the Black Panthers manning polling stations, scaring away white voters,

and the 108% of the vote that Obama received, mostly from dead people

I'm sure Americans are appalled at seeing voting precincts blocked. A reminder of their not too distant past. If it happened today, not only would police break up any protest, but voters themselves would attack!

When someone breaks the law in the US, and works outside Wall Street and Hollywood, the domestic armed forces will stop at nothing in apprehending the suspects.

Does anyone remember the final chase in the movie the Blues Brothers? "Unnecessary violence in apprehending Elwood and Jake Blues has been approved."

NOT sure where you are going here, but in America they don't block voting precincts, they just don't have you registered or allow you to cast your vote because you are black and in a swing district. Vote rigging is rampant in the USA.

Between the electronic counting machines, chads, the non-registration of constituents, and the trusty ol' US Supreme Court -- which decides insanely "let's not continue to count the votes because if we did Dubya won't be elected". I shit you not. That is EXACTLY how the USA runs its fraudulent elections.

Here in Thailand they typically try to monetarily bribe the constituents. In America the propaganda machine captures their minds so they think one whitewashed Mafia Don is somehow better than the other.

[blabth]

I m not an American but I get p....d when I see all this stupid remarks. America or better the US is still an example of freedom and democracy. I believe a majority of people worldwide would like to exchange their government to an American style one. It was America who has given many countries the democracy including half of Europe after the war. It was America who helped Germany for example to be what it is today. Without the pressure and the muscles of the US the soviet empire would be still their and Millions of people would be still livening in a communist regime. It's not all great what they are doing but the positive things are more than the negative ones.

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[curious0one]

[Frank James]

Who in their right mind would take any notice of "Bumbling Obama" he can't run his own country, can't run "Obama Care" allows his Diplomatic Staff to be Murdered and the tries to blame it on a stupid movie. Waffles on about, "Make no mistake...bla, bla, bla those responsible will be brought to justice."........ Big question is, WHEN???

The Guy is a very bad joke on the world stage and needs to keep his nose out of Thailand. Just have a look at FOX News out of the US and you'll find out what a fool Obama is.

Oh yeah, Fox News is the place to get the Big Picture, sure enough. This thread is bringing out all the Deep Thinkers.

[Frank James]

More brilliance, from post #112:

"

did you say the US oesnt block voting preciencts?

you are apparently unaware of the Black Panthers manning polling stations, scaring away white voters,

and the 108% of the vote that Obama received, mostly from dead people"

Can't top that! Another True Patriot heard from.

[Baerboxer]

From day one the USA has made it clear it supports the elected government. That was the appropriate response at the time and its position has not changed. I very much doubt that the Suthep antics are high on the Washington agenda. They support the status quo.

Nonsense. Show us all the links to where the USA has specifically supported Yingluck, Thaksin or PTP.

The USA has quite rightly supported freedom of expression, freedom of protest, democracy and the rule of law. The last to are unfortunately sadly missing from Thai politics.

The USA has also quite rightly appealed for non violence, and for resolution through dialogue.

All the pro-PTP sympathizer like to pretend, just like No.1 cousin, that the words the USA and other foreign governments say can be interpreted how they want.

On the other hand ,why do you not show us any specific links where the U.S. states it does not support the elected government.

On where they state they support an appointed counsel in a Democratic country, or that they support the right of protesters to block other citizen's constitutional right to vote, no matter what color shirt you wear!

The Suthep Sympathizers, believe all country's do not have a clue to what is going on in Thailand , A naked grab for power by the rich elite, that is incapable of winning a free, open, fair election!

Cheers

Try reading the post and thinking before writing. All the comments I've seen from various countries have been carefully worded. Not one has supported the Thaksin proxy regime or Suthep's somewhat extreme right wing and badly explained alternative by name.

You can check easily enough - don't be lazy. And don't try to use being lazy as an excuse to justify the lies Prbkk spouts. He's know very well the USA have never openly supported either side in official statements, and won't reply with links because they're aren't any. He plays this game all the time.

Being opposed to an inept corrupt government, openly ran by a convicted criminal fugitive, that has been caught telling lies and cheating, and refuses to go honorably does not mean you are a Suthep supporter. I would suggest the vast majority of people who came out to protest at the crude attempt to whitewash Thaksin and bring him home free of all charges and convictions are no more in favor of an elitist Suthep dictatorship than they are a Shin dynastic family dictator ship with Shin clan members occupying all positions of power and no check and balances.

Most countries don't really have a clue what's going on - they get small, irregular and often biased reports which are well down the pecking order of interesting international news.

[celso]

For those saying "who cares". The US government pays Thailand 300million baht per year in aid, the majority going to the military. So the army certainly cares.

[Snig27]

From day one the USA has made it clear it supports the elected government. That was the appropriate response at the time and its position has not changed. I very much doubt that the Suthep antics are high on the Washington agenda. They support the status quo.

Nonsense. Show us all the links to where the USA has specifically supported Yingluck, Thaksin or PTP.

The USA has quite rightly supported freedom of expression, freedom of protest, democracy and the rule of law. The last to are unfortunately sadly missing from Thai politics.

The USA has also quite rightly appealed for non violence, and for resolution through dialogue.

All the pro-PTP sympathizer like to pretend, just like No.1 cousin, that the words the USA and other foreign governments say can be interpreted how they want.

On the other hand ,why do you not show us any specific links where the U.S. states it does not support the elected government.

On where they state they support an appointed counsel in a Democratic country, or that they support the right of protesters to block other citizen's constitutional right to vote, no matter what color shirt you wear!

The Suthep Sympathizers, believe all country's do not have a clue to what is going on in Thailand , A naked grab for power by the rich elite, that is incapable of winning a free, open, fair election!

Cheers

Try reading the post and thinking before writing. All the comments I've seen from various countries have been carefully worded. Not one has supported the Thaksin proxy regime or Suthep's somewhat extreme right wing and badly explained alternative by name.

You can check easily enough - don't be lazy. And don't try to use being lazy as an excuse to justify the lies Prbkk spouts. He's know very well the USA have never openly supported either side in official statements, and won't reply with links because they're aren't any. He plays this game all the time.

Being opposed to an inept corrupt government, openly ran by a convicted criminal fugitive, that has been caught telling lies and cheating, and refuses to go honorably does not mean you are a Suthep supporter. I would suggest the vast majority of people who came out to protest at the crude attempt to whitewash Thaksin and bring him home free of all charges and convictions are no more in favor of an elitist Suthep dictatorship than they are a Shin dynastic family dictator ship with Shin clan members occupying all positions of power and no check and balances.

Most countries don't really have a clue what's going on - they get small, irregular and often biased reports which are well down the pecking order of interesting international news.

The universal support in the international community is for an elected government and like it or not Yingluck's government is regarded as such. Neither Suthep or the protesters - and I note that your post seems indicative of the many that are urgently trying to distance themselves from him - has a mandate to do the things they are demanding, neither in numbers or moral.

As to Thailand's importance, a few seconds with a map, a few more with the current US policy papers on Asia and a minute or so reading about the South China Sea should put you right. In 2014 Thailand matters more to the Western Alliance than it has since 1975.

Very quiet at Asoke tonight, huh?

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[Snig27]

For those saying "who cares". The US government pays Thailand 300million baht per year in aid, the majority going to the military. So the army certainly cares.

Yep and that aid was only revived after the last election. It was stopped after the 2006 coup. Same with NATO military sales to Thailand.

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[celso]

 

For those saying "who cares". The US government pays Thailand 300million baht per year in aid, the majority going to the military. So the army certainly cares.

Yep and that aid was only revived after the last election. It was stopped after the 2006 coup. Same with NATO military sales to Thailand.

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Yes, must be one of the reasons the army is hesitant this time around, along with the criticism they received after the 2010 redshirt protests.

[Snig27]

Just retweeted by the US state dept 15 minutes ago:

U.S. is deeply troubled by efforts to block polls and otherwise prevent voting in #Thailand. http://t.co/LwM56IG2MR

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Edited January 27, 2014 by Snig27

[citizen33]

Even Fox News saw some sense when it came to events at the polling stations.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/01/26/thailand-protesters-attempt-to-block-polling-stations-ahead-general-election/

[tsnyder]

For those saying "who cares". The US government pays Thailand 300million baht per year in aid, the majority going to the military. So the army certainly cares.

Pure BS.

If you think not, supply proof.

[tsnyder]

For those saying "who cares". The US government pays Thailand 300million baht per year in aid, the majority going to the military. So the army certainly cares.

Yep and that aid was only revived after the last election. It was stopped after the 2006 coup. Same with NATO military sales to Thailand.

More BS.

Aid was restored with the election of Samak at the beginning of 2008.

[englishoak]

For those saying "who cares". The US government pays Thailand 300million baht per year in aid, the majority going to the military. So the army certainly cares.

Pure BS.

If you think not, supply proof.

Thailand, 2006

On Sept. 19, 2006, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was deposed by the military, the country’s first coup in nearly 15 years. Acknowledging that a military coup had occurred, within days the Bush administration suspended $24 million in military assistance to Thailand. Historically, Thailand has not been a major recipient of U.S. development aid.

In response to the September 19, 2006, military coup in Thailand, the U.S. State Department suspended military and peacekeeping assistance and training under foreign operations appropriations and counterterrorism assistance under Section 1206 of the National Defense. Authorization Act for FY2006. The bans were imposed pursuant to Section 508 of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, which provides that such funds shall not

be made available to any country whose duly elected head of government was deposed by military coup. Other aid programs not affected by Section 508 or in the U.S. national interest would continue to receive funding

Thailand would not hold general elections until December 2007. In February 2008, a little over a week after a Shinawatra ally was confirmed as prime minister, then-U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte certified to Congress that Thailand was once again under a democratically elected government.

In a bid to shore up Thailand’s fragile democratic institutions, the Obama administration has since stepped up U.S. democracy and governance assistance to Thailand. For fiscal 2014, the administration has requested $4.6 million in democracy and governance aid to Thailand, compared with $5.5 million in military aid.

Thats just up to 08 a lot has gone on since...

You want to look at a report in full upto date here https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32593.pdf its not financial in basis but is a good read nevertheless.

[VegasVic]

Who in their right mind would take any notice of "Bumbling Obama" he can't run his own country, can't run "Obama Care" allows his Diplomatic Staff to be Murdered and the tries to blame it on a stupid movie. Waffles on about, "Make no mistake...bla, bla, bla those responsible will be brought to justice."........ Big question is, WHEN???

The Guy is a very bad joke on the world stage and needs to keep his nose out of Thailand. Just have a look at FOX News out of the US and you'll find out what a fool Obama is.

Oh yeah, Fox News is the place to get the Big Picture, sure enough. This thread is bringing out all the Deep Thinkers.

One doesn't need to watch FOX news to realize that Obama is an empty suit, most of the worlds leaders figured that out in the opening year of his first term