Military Exercise Underway With Thailand Despite US Concerns
By Steve Herman

Cobra Gold

U-TAPAO NAVAL AIRFIELD, THAILAND: — Continuing tensions between Thailand's military junta, which seized power from the country’s elected government last May, and the United States, which has called for the immediate end to martial law and a return to democratic rule, has led to changes in an annual, multinational military training exercise in the kingdom.

At the Royal Thai Navy's U-Tapao airfield, this year’s exercise saw troops carry out a mock mass evacuation of Japanese, American and Thai civilians.

A devastating earthquake has struck in an Asian nation. Countries are anxious to rescue their traumatized nationals and get them out of harm's way. That is the scenario that played out at the tip of the Gulf of Siam on Sunday during the Cobra Gold military exercises.

The annual multinational drill, which has run for more than 30 years, this year involves some 6,700 participants and observers from 24 nations.

2015 exercises

But the 2015 edition almost did not happen.

The United States took a hard look at canceling after Thailand's military carried out another coup last year. In the end, Washington decided to scale back Cobra Gold.

Gregory Poling, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the United States wanted to send a nuanced message to Thailand.

“It's one of still being a long term friend of Thailand, our longest-term ally in Asia, but also a sign of discontent with the coup,” Poling said.

Royal Thai Navy Rear Admiral Wannapol Glormgeao expressed relief that Cobra Gold went ahead this year. However, he lamented the lack of a maritime landing component.

The admiral said Thailand was thankful for the participating countries, saying the exercise "is useful for each country to improve relationship-building and to exchange experiences."

These simulations, he explained, are valuable for actual military operations.

Scenarios are helpful

The U.S. military's mission commander for the civilian evacuation drill, Marine Corps Captain Hector Contreras, agreed.

“If an actual operation comes up, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, that type of scenario, we know we have partners in this region of the world like Thais, like Japanese, who can partner with us, strengthen our ability to help the local nationals,” Contreras said.

But will Cobra Gold put on this kind of show next year, especially if Thailand remains under military rule?

It depends, analyst Poling said.

“Washington is eager to see exactly when the [Thai] military plans to step back and is doing everything they can to try to make it absolutely clear that we're willing to balance on the ledge here for a little bit. But by late 2015, early 2016, we expect to see a return to democratic elections,” Poling said.

Proponents of continuing Cobra Gold say if the U.S. military chooses to disengage from Thailand, the junta could seek closer ties with China.

-- VOA News.com 2015-02-16

Had a few beers with some US Marines in Chiang Mai last weak. Great bunch and all gentlemen.

A nitpicking nonsense post has been removed as well as a reply.

Gregory Poling - http://csis.org/expert/gregory-b-poling

An expert in South East Asia military strategies. With Thursdays sentencing of former PM Yingluck Shinawatra, will the U.S respond by pulling out of Cobra Gold 2015 if she receives a jail sentence?

Gregory Poling - http://csis.org/expert/gregory-b-poling

An expert in South East Asia military strategies. With Thursdays sentencing of former PM Yingluck Shinawatra, will the U.S respond by pulling out of Cobra Gold 2015 if she receives a jail sentence?

"An expert in South East Asia military strategies."

The US military does not devise strategy for political or diplomatic events and calling the author who you cited an expert in military strategies is ridiculous.

Gregory Poling is a fellow with the Sumitro Chair for Southeast Asia Studies and the Pacific Partners Initiative at CSIS. He manages research projects that focus on U.S. foreign policy in the Asia Pacific, with a special focus on the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. His current research interests include disputes in the South China Sea, democratization in Southeast Asia, and Asian multilateralism.

Gregory Poling - http://csis.org/expert/gregory-b-poling

An expert in South East Asia military strategies. With Thursdays sentencing of former PM Yingluck Shinawatra, will the U.S respond by pulling out of Cobra Gold 2015 if she receives a jail sentence?

I highly doubt it. With the SEA pivot to deal with an arming China and Russia, Thailand is too important a partner in the region. The US will hem and haw but will continue to work militarily with whatever government is in place.

large influx of bargirls in the area too.

There's been an ongoing civil war in the south of Thailand for years, now. Thousands have died, including innocent teachers and children. Why isn't THIS more of a concern for my government than a military coup in which (as far as I know) absolutely no one has died?

There's been an ongoing civil war in the south of Thailand for years, now. Thousands have died, including innocent teachers and children. Why isn't THIS more of a concern for my government than a military coup in which (as far as I know) absolutely no one has died?

Because:

1. There is no oil there.

2. It doesn't hold any strategic value.

Same goes for why the west won't get involved in the genocides currently in Darfur, Bosnia before that, Rwanda before that, Cambodia before that etc etc.

There's been an ongoing civil war in the south of Thailand for years, now. Thousands have died, including innocent teachers and children. Why isn't THIS more of a concern for my government than a military coup in which (as far as I know) absolutely no one has died?

A very good question.

The same could be said for the EU and it's member countries too. Nothing collectively or individually on this topic. No condemnation of massacres down there. Similarly, why are all the Human Rights organizations not jumping up and down about 3,500 extra judicial murders.

There's been an ongoing civil war in the south of Thailand for years, now. Thousands have died, including innocent teachers and children. Why isn't THIS more of a concern for my government than a military coup in which (as far as I know) absolutely no one has died?

The real question....Why hasnt the government of Thailand taken measures to stop it, NOT the US! But sorry as this actually has nothing to do with the topic.

There's been an ongoing civil war in the south of Thailand for years, now. Thousands have died, including innocent teachers and children. Why isn't THIS more of a concern for my government than a military coup in which (as far as I know) absolutely no one has died?

The real question....Why hasnt the government of Thailand taken measures to stop it, NOT the US! But sorry as this actually has nothing to do with the topic.

OKAY...let me spell it out for you.

A:

"According to the internal security organization of the Thai state, since January 1, 2004, 5105 people have been killed and 9372 injured in the civil war in the South."

B:

According to Wikipedia, the number of people killed in the 2004 tsunami in Thailand is 5395.

C:

This article is about protecting citizens from natural disasters using the military. The ONLY concern I've seen from the West about the civil war in the south has been from human rights groups like Amnesty International, not their governments which seem much more concerned about democracy.

Then tell the Thai government to take care of "their business"

More people are killed a year in motor vehicle accidents than then entire period you mention since 2004....

Your argument is invalid in relationship to this thread, Period.

Then tell the Thai government to take care of "their business"

More people are killed a year in motor vehicle accidents than then entire period you mention since 2004....

Your argument is invalid in relationship to this thread, Period.

Says who?

YOU?

Are you a moderator now to decide who writes on what posts?

Not at all just pointing out the fact that the above post has nothing to do with the topic at hand....

There's been an ongoing civil war in the south of Thailand for years, now. Thousands have died, including innocent teachers and children. Why isn't THIS more of a concern for my government than a military coup in which (as far as I know) absolutely no one has died?

The real question....Why hasnt the government of Thailand taken measures to stop it, NOT the US! But sorry as this actually has nothing to do with the topic.

Maybe if all your military DECORATIONS ARE FOR GRAND THEFT, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS.

Then tell the Thai government to take care of "their business"

More people are killed a year in motor vehicle accidents than then entire period you mention since 2004....

Your argument is invalid in relationship to this thread, Period.

"their business" is their business. My point exactly.

Edited February 17, 201511 yr by TomJoad

Then tell the Thai government to take care of "their business"

More people are killed a year in motor vehicle accidents than then entire period you mention since 2004....

Your argument is invalid in relationship to this thread, Period.

Huh?

Edited February 17, 201511 yr by TomJoad

Then tell the Thai government to take care of "their business"

More people are killed a year in motor vehicle accidents than then entire period you mention since 2004....

Your argument is invalid in relationship to this thread, Period.

From the Article:

"Continuing tensions between Thailand's military junta, which seized power from the country’s elected government last May, and the United States, which has called for the immediate end to martial law and a return to democratic rule.."

The point of my post was...If the USA cares about what kind of government Thailand has, then why don't they care about other, more pressing internal matters (like 1000's of innocent civilians DYING in the south). (I purposely capitalized DYING for you)

Are you trying to say that Thailand having a military junta for a government is NOT an internal matter, (as is the civil war in the south)? Learn 2 read.

"A devastating earthquake has struck in an Asian nation. Countries are anxious to rescue their traumatized nationals and get them out of harm's way."

Wow!

Does the U.S government is actually willing and able to come rescue myself and my family if things turn to poop in Thailand??

I would have never expected that!

Should I?

The US should pull out of Cobra Gold 2015 in protest of continued martial law. no end in site of military rule in Thailand ending and therfore no signals that democracy is being given a chance.

The US should pull out of Cobra Gold 2015 in protest of continued martial law. no end in site of military rule in Thailand ending and therfore no signals that democracy is being given a chance.

I would normally agree with you, but when you consider the level of corruption in the previous government (and the one before that, and the one before that) along with that fact that democratic elections here aren't really elections as you and I understand them, (advocates for each candidate physically travel the countryside offering money and gifts for votes) I think we can provide for some allowances here.

The US should pull out of Cobra Gold 2015 in protest of continued martial law. no end in site of military rule in Thailand ending and therfore no signals that democracy is being given a chance.

Using your logic and a dictionary.....

The US government should pull out of the U.S. as well!

The U.S. government is not a democracy.

The U.S. government is a republic.

There is a difference and as stated above, you can find the difference in any English dictionary.

The U.S. government seems to use democracy as an excuse to interfere with any government it is convenient for them to interfere with.

It is a sham that even most Americans are not educated enough to figure out!

P.S. I am an American.

The US should pull out of Cobra Gold 2015 in protest of continued martial law. no end in site of military rule in Thailand ending and therfore no signals that democracy is being given a chance.

Using your logic and a dictionary.....

The US government should pull out of the U.S. as well!

The U.S. government is not a democracy.

The U.S. government is a republic.

There is a difference and as stated above, you can find the difference in any English dictionary.

The U.S. government seems to use democracy as an excuse to interfere with any government it is convenient for them to interfere with.

It is a sham that even most Americans are not educated enough to figure out!

P.S. I am an American.

No, the US is a democratic republic.

P.S. I am an American too.

There's been an ongoing civil war in the south of Thailand for years, now. Thousands have died, including innocent teachers and children. Why isn't THIS more of a concern for my government than a military coup in which (as far as I know) absolutely no one has died?

Come on Tom, The USA can't be the world cop and every time there is an issue in a country the US has to jump in. Also, the USA cant just jump in they would need to be invited by the Thai government and anyone who has been living in Thailand for any length of time knows that will not happen. No way would the Thai government or Thai military services admit they cant handle this themselves.

Now with that being said can you even tell me who in the south this "civil war" is with? Which really it's not a civil war it's Islamic extremists conducting acts of terrorism. Do you even know what is going on in the south? You do realize that the groups preforming the bombings are from Malaysia and are Muslim extremists and this has been going on for decades. Not sure if you know or not but the Thai government is working with locals in the south to teach them how to defend themselves, how to shoot a gun and try to take action, but how can you fight these terrorists when you don't know exactly who they are and where they are. Most if not all live in Malaysia and cross the boarder conduct an attack and then slip back into Malaysia. The Thai government conducts boarder patrols but there is just too much of an area to cross to be able to do this effectively. They do get lucky from time to time and catch someone here or there or have run-ins and shoot outs with them, but no way will they ever be able to completely stop this without some type of dialogue with the terrorists and come to an agreement, which will never happen as they want Islamic rule in that area. The Thai government has had some talks with these terrorist but every time things fail or the govt changes for one reason or another. To settle things in the south the Thai government needs to be fixed it's self.

If the USA were to get involved in every country that has an issue like Thailand they would be all over the place. Indonesia, Philippines, Timor, India, several countries in Africa, middle east etc. The USA just cant do this.

The U.S needs to get tough on Thailand.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/02/the-u-s-needs-to-get-tough-on-thailand/

The US should pull out of Cobra Gold 2015 in protest of continued martial law. no end in site of military rule in Thailand ending and therfore no signals that democracy is being given a chance.

Using your logic and a dictionary.....

The US government should pull out of the U.S. as well!

The U.S. government is not a democracy.

The U.S. government is a republic.

There is a difference and as stated above, you can find the difference in any English dictionary.

The U.S. government seems to use democracy as an excuse to interfere with any government it is convenient for them to interfere with.

It is a sham that even most Americans are not educated enough to figure out!

P.S. I am an American.

No, the US is a democratic republic.

P.S. I am an American too.

The United States of America is, I believe, a federal, presidential, constitutional republic.

PS, I am a Canadian.

The U.S needs to get tough on Thailand.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/02/the-u-s-needs-to-get-tough-on-thailand/

Interesting article, why isn't the US doing more to help restore democracy in Thailand?

Is there secret deals taking place between the junta and the US?