US to hold major military exercise again in Thailand

[webfact]

US to hold major military exercise again in Thailand
MATTHEW PENNINGTON, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States plans to hold its annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand again next year despite concern that a post-coup government is slipping in its timetable for restoring democracy, a senior U.S. official said Thursday.

Cobra Gold is one of the world's largest, multilateral military exercises. It has been held in Thailand since 1982, but was scaled down this year because of May 2014 coup and focused on humanitarian operations training.

Senior State Department official Scot Marciel told a congressional hearing that the exercise was important to the U.S. and the region, and the administration decided this week to go ahead with preparations for the 2016 edition. He said Cobra Gold would be scaled down again because of the political situation in Thailand.

Marciel was one of three administration officials testifying on the state of democracy in Asia before a House subcommittee that oversees U.S. foreign policy toward the region. The officials expressed concern that the interim government in Thailand had not established a clear timeline for a possible public referendum on a draft constitution.

"There are signs that parliamentary elections — once tentatively scheduled for fall 2015, then early 2016 — could slip even further. We are concerned that without a timely, transparent, and inclusive reform process, the Thai government will never enjoy the public buy-in necessary to build lasting institutions," the officials said in joint, prepared testimony.

Thailand is a U.S. treaty ally, but the 182-year diplomatic relationship has been strained since Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha toppled an elected government and seized power following a prolonged period of political instability and violence. The military government has cracked down on political opponents and enforced strict curbs on free expression.

The U.S. has criticized the junta and suspended $4.7 million in military assistance after the coup, but has done little else to punish the Southeast Asian nation, which remains an important hub for American engagement with the region.

The administration reiterated Thursday that suspended assistance won't be resumed until a democratically-elected government takes office in Thailand. The U.S. will also carefully vet on a case-by-case basis whether to proceed with high-level engagements and training programs with the military and police.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-06-12

[ratcatcher]

Perhaps the U.S. wants to try and woo Thailand a little while she sits in China's lap?

[rijb]

Damn! Doesn't the US know how much turmoil that creates on ThaiVisa?

They're doing this just to take the pressure off Thaksin. They always liked him best.

[JOC]

>>The U.S. has criticized the junta and suspended $4.7 million in military assistance after the coup, but has done little else to punish the Southeast Asian nation, which remains an important hub for American engagement with the region.<< Quote

So the Americans are supporting the coup-makers-to-be, but when the coup has taken place, they remove their support, because of the high moral standings of the US ??

Makes sense......................

[phuketandsee]

Par for the course. The US always promotes democracy when it suits them but not when it doesn't.

[rijb]

I believe that's called Marketing 101.

[elgordo38]

>>The U.S. has criticized the junta and suspended $4.7 million in military assistance after the coup, but has done little else to punish the Southeast Asian nation, which remains an important hub for American engagement with the region.<< Quote

So the Americans are supporting the coup-makers-to-be, but when the coup has taken place, they remove their support, because of the high moral standings of the US ??

Makes sense......................

Its kiss and make up time. America only does things like this when they have a hidden agenda. Governments at best are fickle animals. As governments are controlled by big business maybe the armament industry is pushing them to make nice so they can sell Thailand some old subs or other redundant equipment they have sitting around gathering rust. What was they old saying by H.C. Fields? or its a game of "Who is on first"

[GoodThaiGirl]

the us has more faces than medusa had snakes...hypocrites...

[brain150]

US: Talking about peace, preparing for war !!!

[or what else would a military exercise be good for ?]

The empire has to end !!!

... and it will be good for all mankind once the US stops killing people all around the world.

[ratcatcher]

US: Talking about peace, preparing for war !!!

[or what else would a military exercise be good for ?]

The empire has to end !!!

... and it will be good for all mankind once the US stops killing people all around the world.

What a bizarre comment from a person with such a user name. The greatest threat to world peace are the participants in the list below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks#2010s

May their God bless America.

[rubl]

>>The U.S. has criticized the junta and suspended $4.7 million in military assistance after the coup, but has done little else to punish the Southeast Asian nation, which remains an important hub for American engagement with the region.<< Quote

So the Americans are supporting the coup-makers-to-be, but when the coup has taken place, they remove their support, because of the high moral standings of the US ??

Makes sense......................

Its kiss and make up time. America only does things like this when they have a hidden agenda. Governments at best are fickle animals. As governments are controlled by big business maybe the armament industry is pushing them to make nice so they can sell Thailand some old subs or other redundant equipment they have sitting around gathering rust. What was they old saying by H.C. Fields? or its a game of "Who is on first"

Must be a false flag operation. A while ago Phoenixdoglover told us the USA would not tolerate whatever here and invade the country

[rametindallas]

Cobra Gold military exercises are important to military preparedness enough to overlook that Thailand still has a military government but they are going to put on a half-assed scaled down version, you know, just to show disapproval. This is a military preparedness exercise and if you want it to fulfill its mission, you must do it whole heartedly. Either do a full scale exercise in Thailand or don't do anything in Thailand. I'd bet Australia would love to host such an event. Come on America, get off the fence.

.

[Usernames]

Cobra Gold military exercises are important to military preparedness enough to overlook that Thailand still has a military government but they are going to put on a half-assed scaled down version, you know, just to show disapproval. This is a military preparedness exercise and if you want it to fulfill its mission, you must do it whole heartedly. Either do a full scale exercise in Thailand or don't do anything in Thailand. I'd bet Australia would love to host such an event. Come on America, get off the fence.

.

It would be best for the US to call it off. At the very least, make sure the Chinese do not participate/observe anymore. That would put some pressure on the Thai government, too. Either the Thais support the exercise or support the Chinese. Bell the cat.

[rametindallas]

Cobra Gold military exercises are important to military preparedness enough to overlook that Thailand still has a military government but they are going to put on a half-assed scaled down version, you know, just to show disapproval. This is a military preparedness exercise and if you want it to fulfill its mission, you must do it whole heartedly. Either do a full scale exercise in Thailand or don't do anything in Thailand. I'd bet Australia would love to host such an event. Come on America, get off the fence.

.

It would be best for the US to call it off. At the very least, make sure the Chinese do not participate/observe anymore. That would put some pressure on the Thai government, too. Either the Thais support the exercise or support the Chinese. Bell the cat.

At the very least, make sure the Chinese do not participate/observe anymore.

I was hoping for a de-escalation of tension in SEA. I'd be concerned that excluding the Chinese, after bringing them in closer, will lead to increased tensions. I've found that many people don't respond their best when under tension.

That would put some pressure on the Thai government, too. Either the Thais support the exercise or support the Chinese

As for forcing Thailand to choose sides, I think the US will create needless hostility from both the Chinese government and Thai's of Chinese extract (40%) and from Thai Nationalists who don't like foreign intervention in Thai affairs. A move like that could alienate the US so much that it would have virtually no influence on the Thai government.

This Cobra Gold exercise is conducted primarily to promote understanding and cooperation in the region so that hostilities from misunderstanding are minimized. They need to be full-fledged, get-the-most out of it they can be. Either have a REAL exercise or cancel it or move it.

.

[mikemac]

Where are all the posters who have been saying that America would not have anything to do with Thailand because of the coup ?

Any excuse to condemn the junta and when that does not apply any more they have a look in their book of "reasons to bag the junta" and copy and paste that into their comment.

If you have legit complaints that's fine, let's hear them. But don't crap on about the international community condemning Thailand because of the coup. The fact is the majority of countries don't care what is going on in Thailand, they have their own problems to worry about.

And what is happening in Thailand really does not have a big effect on the world.

I hope the Military exercises go ahead and are a big success.

A couple of poster were harping on about Australia's reaction to the coup. The Australian PM made some comments about it, condemning it, but only because he had to, and he has it on record that he condemned it.

But he did not do it on behalf of the general population because some Australians had no problem with the coup and hundreds of thousands of Aussies were still going to Thailand for holidays, thousands of Aussie expats are still living in Thailand and if any left the country because of the coup then I say good luck to them although I don't know why they left, if anything the country is a bit safer since the coup.

Australia is still doing trade with Thailand and the supermarkets there are full of Thai products.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop recently visited Thailand for talks and apparently Tony Abbot the PM has accepted an invitation to visit Thailand.

[phuketandsee]

US: Talking about peace, preparing for war !!!

[or what else would a military exercise be good for ?]

The empire has to end !!!

... and it will be good for all mankind once the US stops killing people all around the world.

What a bizarre comment from a person with such a user name. The greatest threat to world peace are the participants in the list below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks#2010s

May their God bless America.

I think a case can be made that the US has been the greatest threat to world peace for quite some time. Here is another list you might want to check out:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article41086.htm

Missing from it are all the places the CIA has fermented trouble such as in Iran in 1953 (with the aid of MI6). A bit of background reading on that one goes a long way to explain Iran's distrust/dislike of the US now.

Can I also recommend you check out "The China Mirage" by James Bradley ("Flags of our Fathers") to see how the US has bungled it's relationship with China, the consequences of which we are just beginning to understand.

[Benmart]

Par for the course. The US always promotes democracy when it suits them but not when it doesn't.

Look at history and you will find England, France and other "democracies" did much the same to appease another dictator.

The USA is certainly not perfect, but then, neither am I.

[phuketandsee]

Par for the course. The US always promotes democracy when it suits them but not when it doesn't.

Look at history and you will find England, France and other "democracies" did much the same to appease another dictator.

The USA is certainly not perfect, but then, neither am I.

Indeed. Only difference is England and France can't afford so much meddling anymore

[Usernames]

Cobra Gold military exercises are important to military preparedness enough to overlook that Thailand still has a military government but they are going to put on a half-assed scaled down version, you know, just to show disapproval. This is a military preparedness exercise and if you want it to fulfill its mission, you must do it whole heartedly. Either do a full scale exercise in Thailand or don't do anything in Thailand. I'd bet Australia would love to host such an event. Come on America, get off the fence.

.

It would be best for the US to call it off. At the very least, make sure the Chinese do not participate/observe anymore. That would put some pressure on the Thai government, too. Either the Thais support the exercise or support the Chinese. Bell the cat.

At the very least, make sure the Chinese do not participate/observe anymore.

I was hoping for a de-escalation of tension in SEA. I'd be concerned that excluding the Chinese, after bringing them in closer, will lead to increased tensions. I've found that many people don't respond their best when under tension.

That would put some pressure on the Thai government, too. Either the Thais support the exercise or support the Chinese

As for forcing Thailand to choose sides, I think the US will create needless hostility from both the Chinese government and Thai's of Chinese extract (40%) and from Thai Nationalists who don't like foreign intervention in Thai affairs. A move like that could alienate the US so much that it would have virtually no influence on the Thai government.

This Cobra Gold exercise is conducted primarily to promote understanding and cooperation in the region so that hostilities from misunderstanding are minimized. They need to be full-fledged, get-the-most out of it they can be. Either have a REAL exercise or cancel it or move it.

.

Thailand and the Thai Chinese were plenty worried about China for about a quarter of a century, when they realized the nature of its expansionist ideology and the threat it was to Thai sovereignty and independence. Ultimately, I believe that the people at the top of Thai decision making realize this. But they think they can be smart and get things from both sides. That is not in the US interest, however, and Thailand must realize that this is a two way street. Bring in the Chinese and they will gobble you up and spit out the bones. Does Thailand want to be the next Myanmar, Laos, or Cambodia? That would be several large steps backwards.

[Benmart]

Par for the course. The US always promotes democracy when it suits them but not when it doesn't.

Look at history and you will find England, France and other "democracies" did much the same to appease another dictator.

The USA is certainly not perfect, but then, neither am I.

Indeed. Only difference is England and France can't afford so much meddling anymore.

They can just borrow from China and meddle away, as my country has.

[Benmart]

US: Talking about peace, preparing for war !!!

[or what else would a military exercise be good for ?]

The empire has to end !!!

... and it will be good for all mankind once the US stops killing people all around the world.

What a bizarre comment from a person with such a user name. The greatest threat to world peace are the participants in the list below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks#2010s

May their God bless America.

I think a case can be made that the US has been the greatest threat to world peace for quite some time. Here is another list you might want to check out:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article41086.htm

Missing from it are all the places the CIA has fermented trouble such as in Iran in 1953 (with the aid of MI6). A bit of background reading on that one goes a long way to explain Iran's distrust/dislike of the US now.

Can I also recommend you check out "The China Mirage" by James Bradley ("Flags of our Fathers") to see how the US has bungled it's relationship with China, the consequences of which we are just beginning to understand.

I can find fault in even the purest of intentions.

I can affix labels to most any issue, however mundane.

I read and wonder how much is truth, regardless of the publisher.

Death, destruction and hate are not the sole property of any country or government.

I've never been a member of the CIA or MI6, so I can't speak from any personal experience.

I can whip up a storm with words, written or spoken, but I prefer not to.

I am only a lone traveler trying to make peace wherever I go.

[phuketandsee]

US: Talking about peace, preparing for war !!!

[or what else would a military exercise be good for ?]

The empire has to end !!!

... and it will be good for all mankind once the US stops killing people all around the world.

What a bizarre comment from a person with such a user name. The greatest threat to world peace are the participants in the list below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks#2010s

May their God bless America.

I think a case can be made that the US has been the greatest threat to world peace for quite some time. Here is another list you might want to check out:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article41086.htm

Missing from it are all the places the CIA has fermented trouble such as in Iran in 1953 (with the aid of MI6). A bit of background reading on that one goes a long way to explain Iran's distrust/dislike of the US now.

Can I also recommend you check out "The China Mirage" by James Bradley ("Flags of our Fathers") to see how the US has bungled it's relationship with China, the consequences of which we are just beginning to understand.

I can find fault in even the purest of intentions.

I can affix labels to most any issue, however mundane.

I read and wonder how much is truth, regardless of the publisher.

Death, destruction and hate are not the sole property of any country or government.

I've never been a member of the CIA or MI6, so I can't speak from any personal experience.

I can whip up a storm with words, written or spoken, but I prefer not to.

I am only a lone traveler trying to make peace wherever I go.

Very poetic!

[phuketandsee]

[Nobb]

I am a Marine Corp Veterian living in Thailand and this makes me so happy. For years we supported each other and hope we can always be allies. Unstable

government the main problem but before junta the government was much more unstable! Hurrah