US on martial law in Thailand: must be 'temporary'

[Jim walker]

Big Brother has spoken

[Frank James]

Thailand has no better friend in this sad world than the United States of America. That's today, tomorrow, next week, all the time. He's a little tune for you tough talking Anti-Americans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZHAFmFsb9XM

[englishoak]

Some people really do need to grow up here.

You will only ever see a democratic Country like the US support a democratic process ... on the surface anyway.

The same and similar statements will be coming from nearly all democratic countries.

As far as minding their own business, Thailand IS their business, in trade, in the UN in many groups and industries, including arms and training for the Thai forces...

Without all of which Thailand cannot do without.

Edited May 20, 2014 by englishoak

[hard124get]

We do not want your advice USA. Stop invading other nations and the world may respect your advice.

Being the worlds most powerful nation, (which is not a subject of dispute, it is simple fact...on all levels, technology, materialistic, militarily on and on), they are entitled to give all the advice they want. That's how this old "super-power" thingy works. They can also make the rules, (which I personally support 110%).

If they didn't invade a country or 2 from time to time, the world would be run by the Chinese and the Russians. Is that what you really want.

Most of this thread will be filled with US bashers, but it may be wiser if if the bashers spent half a second to actually think about the alternatives.

(Having said that, they don't always get it right...but give me a world run by the Americans over one run by Kim rong-un, Putin and about 50 other nameless despots... LOL)

The US empire is crumbling, other nations nether fear nor respect you. We are entering the Asian empire whether you like it or not.

Do you like it? When you write "Asian empire" I assume you mean Chinese empire. What do you think this Chinese empire will be like? Should it be welcomed or resisted?

Russia and India are also in Asia, I don't think it can be resisted

[heybruce]

The US empire is crumbling, other nations nether fear nor respect you. We are entering the Asian empire whether you like it or not.

Do you like it? When you write "Asian empire" I assume you mean Chinese empire. What do you think this Chinese empire will be like? Should it be welcomed or resisted?

Russia and India are also in Asia, I don't think it can be resisted

I stand corrected, you don't think it will necessarily be a Chinese empire. So, what do you think this Chinese, Russian and/or Indian empire will be like? Should it be welcomed or resisted? Do you approve of the fall of the west that sort of, briefly, achieved a rule of the people expressed through democracy, in favor of whatever the east has to offer?

[djjamie]

Some people really do need to grow up here.

You will only ever see a democratic Country like the US support a democratic process ... on the surface anyway.

The same and similar statements will be coming from nearly all democratic countries.

As far as minding their own business, Thailand IS their business, in trade, in the UN in many groups and industries, including arms and training for the Thai forces...

Without all of which Thailand cannot do without.

Completely agree on the "support a democratic process… on the surface anyway"

They use these "processes" where and when convenient.

That is why thaksin could travel freely overseas. Not because govt's think he was unfairly politically persecuted (they new he was guilty as sin) but because they do not adhere to political ideologies, they simply use them when and where profitable or convenient. When thaksin attempted to push through a US-Thailand Free Trade Agreement without parliamentary approval (bypassing democracy), backed by the US-ASEAN Business Council one can rest assured he has powerful friends that don't adhere to these ideologies either.

Edited May 20, 2014 by djjamie

[heybruce]

Why was the US totally silent on the rape and pillaging of Thailand by this despotic government?

Why silent on the total lack of law and order in Thailand?

Why silent on the endless stream of threats and intimidation of the NACC, the Constitution Court, the government workers and the protesters by this government and CAPO?

Why silent on all the government MPs and officials endlessly flying off to Dubai, Hong kong or Singapore to meet with the fugitive criminal?

No double standards you say? Total BS I say.

If the US really wanted to help Thailand, then they should have been screaming from the rooftops since this government came to power by illicit means.

So you want the US to be more involved in the internal affairs of other nations, not less. I lot of people, in and out of the US, would disagree with that.

In this case it seems you wanted the US to take sides and actively support Suthep in his quest to topple a democratically elected government and hand over government to some unelected committees with directions to "reform" the system, with no firm deadline for completion. Once again, a lot of people would disagree.

Democratically elected government?

For the US and most US citizen democracy is voting, and only that.

If a voted for government is making a mess of it, breaking the laws, ignoring the laws, trying to change the laws to suit their own ends, for the US, never mind, the government has been elected for...........

Point noted; you also think the US should be more involved in the internal affairs and governance of other nations. I haven't kept an accurate count, but I'm pretty sure you and WhizBang are in the minority on this.

The US favors democracy and makes this clear publicly. We sometime make exceptions when it is in the country's interest (what nation does not make compromises when it is in the nation's interest?) but the default position is for democracy. People who don't like it will just have to live with it.

[englishoak]

Some people really do need to grow up here.

You will only ever see a democratic Country like the US support a democratic process ... on the surface anyway.

The same and similar statements will be coming from nearly all democratic countries.

As far as minding their own business, Thailand IS their business, in trade, in the UN in many groups and industries, including arms and training for the Thai forces...

Without all of which Thailand cannot do without.

Completely agree on the "support a democratic process… on the surface anyway"

They use these "processes" where and when convenient.

That is why thaksin could travel freely overseas. Not because govt's think he was unfairly politically persecuted (they new he was guilty as sin) but because they do not adhere to political ideologies, they simply use them when and where profitable or convenient. When thaksin attempted to push through a US-Thailand Free Trade Agreement without parliamentary approval (bypassing democracy), backed by the US-ASEAN Business Council one can rest assured he has powerful friends that don't adhere to these ideologies either.

We could get into things deeper but we cant post the basics so not worth doing the rest, plus not many can have a simple chat when the name T is invoked without foaming at the mouth.

I will say this about Thaksin though, politically he is far more astute about globalism and what it means in regards to Thailands future than anyone else here in country. ( regardless of how much he took himself )Thaksin for all his faults ( and there are many ) at least he understood you let others wet their beaks a little and spread it around as much as possible, this includes overseas trade and foreign investment and not just the few elite as previously. It is fair to say most people being here today is due to Thailand continuing to open up over the past few decades... Now some wish to reverse that... big mistake.

Thaksin is also not a xenophobe unlike many other elites here, he at least understood the power lays with being as appealing to as wider audience as possible. In this respect he has/had a far better grasp of how pointless and stupidly narrow in vision trying to go backwards is than certainly the old guard, who wish exactly that. It is lamentable that since then no one else has challenged PTP by appealing to the masses as it could have easily done over a decade...they have squandered that time and it seems learned nothing.

the failing here is not only Thaksins manipulations or if you prefer corruption but also as much the rest of Thai political society and elites refusal to adapt to a changing world and embrace it as it could and should have done the past decade or so.

The worlds democracies of course work better with others of the same understanding for ease of business security and profit they will support any nation on a democratic road as opposed to not.

It allows far far more business opportunities and profits, Key points here being stability and security of those businesses and profits. If not they will go elsewhere or worse effect regime change that DOES suit them better.

So of course western democracies will support the same in other countries and given the other options like Communism Facsim etc its the best humans have come up with to date.

Edited May 20, 2014 by englishoak

[djjamie]

Some people really do need to grow up here.

You will only ever see a democratic Country like the US support a democratic process ... on the surface anyway.

The same and similar statements will be coming from nearly all democratic countries.

As far as minding their own business, Thailand IS their business, in trade, in the UN in many groups and industries, including arms and training for the Thai forces...

Without all of which Thailand cannot do without.

Completely agree on the "support a democratic process… on the surface anyway"

They use these "processes" where and when convenient.

That is why thaksin could travel freely overseas. Not because govt's think he was unfairly politically persecuted (they new he was guilty as sin) but because they do not adhere to political ideologies, they simply use them when and where profitable or convenient. When thaksin attempted to push through a US-Thailand Free Trade Agreement without parliamentary approval (bypassing democracy), backed by the US-ASEAN Business Council one can rest assured he has powerful friends that don't adhere to these ideologies either.

We could get into things deeper but we cant post the basics so not worth doing the rest, plus not many can have a simple chat when the name T is invoked without foaming at the mouth.

I will say this about Thaksin though, politically he is far more astute about globalism and what it means in regards to Thailands future than anyone else here in country. ( regardless of how much he took himself )Thaksin for all his faults ( and there are many ) at least he understood you let others wet their beaks a little and spread it around as much as possible, this includes overseas trade and foreign investment and not just the few elite as previously. It is fair to say most people being here today is due to Thailand continuing to open up over the past few decades... Now some wish to reverse that... big mistake.

Thaksin is also not a xenophobe unlike many other elites here, he at least understood the power lays with being as appealing to as wider audience as possible. In this respect he has/had a far better grasp of how pointless and stupidly narrow in vision trying to go backwards is than certainly the old guard, who wish exactly that. It is lamentable that since then no one else has challenged PTP by appealing to the masses as it could have easily done over a decade...they have squandered that time and it seems learned nothing.

the failing here is not only Thaksins manipulations or if you prefer corruption but also as much the rest of Thai political society and elites refusal to adapt to a changing world and embrace it as it could and should have done the past decade or so.

The worlds democracies of course work better with others of the same understanding for ease of business security and profit they will support any nation on a democratic road as opposed to not.

It allows far far more business opportunities and profits, Key points here being stability and security of those businesses and profits. If not they will go elsewhere or worse effect regime change that DOES suit them better.

So of course western democracies will support the same in other countries and given the other options like Communism Facsim etc its the best humans have come up with to date.

Ummm, ok. Great.

I still completely agree on the "support a democratic process… on the surface anyway" comment you made.

[englishoak]

Thank you for not foaming at the mouth

[Publicus]

it must be 'temporary' in other words the US will continue to press for elections to solve the 'political impasse'

the ? is what will their position be if the Senate 'appoints' a PM with full powers.. before it was a joke because CAPO would not respect it..

but now CRES is in charge of security.. what happens if they (senate) presses the appointment despite 'marshall law'

AND now that we are under martial law- I guess the EC and military gov(CRES) has no excuse to not schedule the next election they will be able to prevent the election from being sabotaged ..something CAPO was unable to do..

Tuesday almost exactly a week ago Washington said it was "reasonably confident" there would be no coup in Thailand. Four days later, 3 am Saturday, the armed forces declared martial law and took control of the whole of the country but nonetheless acted while leaving the existing government in place. I am really reasonably confident the statement by Washington cleared the international decks for Gen Prayuth's non-coup martial law action. Everybody immediately knew it wasn't a coup, which saved the armed forces command a lot of headaches.

Prayuth had made clear for weeks he had independent martial law authority and would use it if he thought he'd have to, which is what he's done. I do believe Washington knew what was coming, why, and where Gen Prayuth wants to take this, meaning through an election and a new parliament and government. PDRC "reforms" seem at this point superfluous and just not central to expediting a restoration of peace and order.

Which means if the senate seriously sets out to name a "neutral" PM and Cabinet, Gen Prayuth will foreclose on the senators before they can turn the lights on to send 'em all home to stay home until the next election. They'll hold a Lumpini testimonial for Suthep, give him a rare preserved autographed photo of Benito Mussolini while sending Suthep's bags south ahead of him.

Thailand is Gen Prayuth's baby now, completely and entirely. Gen Prayuth has the authority, the responsibility, the liability for the country for the remainder of the year, whether the ruling military council remains in existence for that long, which is doubtful. The only thing that would keep the military in extended control would the a sudden but not unexpected sad event.

[mrtoad]

Team America; World Police.

Enough said

Yes, but without them, Russia and China would go on an unprecedented land grab free for all, so be glad there is some balance of power, even if not perfect.

Oldest Democracy the Yanks are and when someone needs the arse bailed out they all come running.

You believe everything that is fed to you? Oldest democracy, BS. Everybody goes running to the US, BS.

[sonar6ca]

When will those Americans stop sticking their noses in other people's business?

Solve your own problems, it will keep you busy for a few years.

[55Jay]

it must be 'temporary' in other words the US will continue to press for elections to solve the 'political impasse'

the ? is what will their position be if the Senate 'appoints' a PM with full powers.. before it was a joke because CAPO would not respect it..

but now CRES is in charge of security.. what happens if they (senate) presses the appointment despite 'marshall law'

AND now that we are under martial law- I guess the EC and military gov(CRES) has no excuse to not schedule the next election they will be able to prevent the election from being sabotaged ..something CAPO was unable to do..

Tuesday almost exactly a week ago Washington said it was "reasonably confident" there would be no coup in Thailand. Four days later, 3 am Saturday, the armed forces declared martial law and took control of the whole of the country but nonetheless acted while leaving the existing government in place. I am really reasonably confident the statement by Washington cleared the international decks for Gen Prayuth's non-coup martial law action. Everybody immediately knew it wasn't a coup, which saved the armed forces command a lot of headaches.

Prayuth had made clear for weeks he had independent martial law authority and would use it if he thought he'd have to, which is what he's done. I do believe Washington knew what was coming, why, and where Gen Prayuth wants to take this, meaning through an election and a new parliament and government. PDRC "reforms" seem at this point superfluous and just not central to expediting a restoration of peace and order.

Which means if the senate seriously sets out to name a "neutral" PM and Cabinet, Gen Prayuth will foreclose on the senators before they can turn the lights on to send 'em all home to stay home until the next election. They'll hold a Lumpini testimonial for Suthep, give him a rare preserved autographed photo of Benito Mussolini while sending Suthep's bags south ahead of him.

Thailand is Gen Prayuth's baby now, completely and entirely. Gen Prayuth has the authority, the responsibility, the liability for the country for the remainder of the year, whether the ruling military council remains in existence for that long, which is doubtful. The only thing that would keep the military in extended control would the a sudden but not unexpected sad event.

Watching the CSIS panel from which the "reasonably confident" quote originated, I did get the impression that DOD was more dialed in than the State Dept guy. No slight on State, but Thailand's history indicates MIL/DoD talking to their Thai Army contacts is more productive in times like these.

Maybe it was just coincidence but did seem the US response/statement was first out of the gate, but still included the "We have just heard' line. LOL.

I think you (and others) are spot on with the other event. Was in UAE when Sh. Zayed went and also in Bahrain for Sh. Issa, so it was interesting to observe the process and listen to the speculation and whispers about behind the scenes events and last minute tussles over succession.

[davidstipek]

Why does the US Government have to stick their beaks in, they think they are the police of the world, Let Thailand and the Thai people sort this out themselves, it might take time but hopefully they will get there

Remember all Foreign Aid Stops When you desolve and step away from being a Democracy. This seems to be a forgotten fact here and a seemingly hidden asset.

If US Backs away as you ask how many 100's of Millions of Dollars will the infrastructure here loose? Being accustumed to hearing what Thailand thinks about free money...

I believe not One Satang is the answer... Ask your Wife/Girlfriend....