Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Do not get bogged down because ISIS has come on the scene and the Taliban before them. Look at the history of Afghanistan they have never known peace or unity. Tribes fight tribes for power and land. That is the way it is and has been for 2000 years. Let them evolve at their own pace and decide their own future.
Western style government and democracy is not something they are ready for or even willing to accept.
I sincerely hope this is the last time Uncle Sam decides that imposing the American way upon countries not ready for it is a sensible option. Count your dead in the Middle East as well as Afghanistan look at what is happening in these places now and tell me it was a good move. How many schools and hospitals would the billions of dollars wasted built?

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

take my word for it the chroniclers or photographers are a big target in war. This one David Gilkey was a brave soul I saw that he was killed on the news last night looked at his works he was good, God rest David

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

I was in the Philippines and saw firsthand what the Marcus raiders did to there own people they slaughtered their own people after chasing all foreigners off,(they would have and in my and my fellow brothers tried to kill us also, they learned the hard way how dedicated to life we were, oh and by the way that episode helped keep me alive in Vietnam I am not proud of killing but I am proud that I saved lives) unfortunately I killed the first 2 people in my life I had to to defend 3 children and their mother and her mother, they were going to kill them because they had seen the atrocity's first hand if it were not for the US presence many many more would have died yes the US made a mistake helping the Marcos regime in the first place but what you don't realize is we were keeping our and your enemy's close so that we could keep them in check and now you have this animosity towards us, yet you come by the droves to the US and use our resources you have no right to speak that way of the country who was and still is protecting you, same goes for Afghanistan we are trying to help them to find a way of life where survival is not the only thing they know, our leaders are not dumb they are and were all smart just some of them made poor choices. a child anywhere on this earth does not deserve to suffer AT ALL they are Innocent and it is up to all of us including Russia to help them out, people who voice such a rhetoric against those who try to help are just plain in the way of reform and progress, sorry you may be a good person but you are misinformed I usually do not make a statement like this but your rhetoric ticked me off,

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Terry I am English not a Filipino. I have no animosity towards Americans I do have animosity towards governments that get involved in disputes and walk away after making them worse by ill thought out intrusion. That also includes the British government by the way.
Your own efforts apart the history of the American in the Philippines is hardly a glorious one. Look up the American war with the Philippines 1898 - 1901 look at what your own Mark Twain said at the time. Look at how your newspapers characterized Filipinos as sub human apes who lived in trees.
Then America compounds it by helping a dictator gain power. Where was Uncle Sam when the people of this country rose up and deposed Marcos? It was the Filipinos who got rid of the yoke of dictatorship.
America has always eyed the Philippines as the strategic jewel in the Pacific which is why Patton returned here. The few Japanese that were still here were beaten and ready for surrender. The US wanted bases for their army and navy and Phils is the perfect place for them. President Joseph Estrada gave you your marching orders when it was apparent it was one way traffic and America was doing very little to help the Philippines.
I can assure you my friend the Americans are not viewed by the educated Filipino as big heroes, far from it.
You yourself if you put your life on the line to help innocent Filipinos would be welcomed anywhere in this country, my wife who is highly educated extremely patriotic and views American actions with a jaundiced eye would be proud to make your acquaintance. But she will not forgive entirely some of the actions of your past administrations in her country.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

I agree that supporting the Marcos regime was a foolish mistake, and we realized it at the time and not only my country but others helped to end this oppression though it was a way to slow a process, I love the people of the Philippines they are a friendly nice and for the most part gentle folk, my dad lost his right eye there and he would agree that we did eye the country as an asset, I do not like that either. sorry but just remembering those incidences makes me so upset, maybe I should not have posted

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

You are proud of being American Im proud of being English. We are not always well represented by the people we vote into power.
I am pleased to make your acquaintance my friend and appreciate your words about the people of the country I now call home.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Thank you same here

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Agreed. Whether known like Ansel Adams, or not as a war photographer, there is a journey and respect due here. If it wasn't for the work of people like David Gilkey we wouldn't have iconic imagery from others such as Joe Rosenthal.

A difficult job, and sometimes a heavy price. Especially for those left behind.

jcboy3

No, Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan both conquered Afghanistan. They did it the old fashioned way...kill everyone that gets in your way.

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Boy, that is one of the longest sentences I have ever read. Would be nice if you could use a period once in a while.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

I am not that great at punctuation

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

in this world, in which we all live, it is best to remember that all good intentions stop at our borders. this is the same for every country on our planet. the foreign policies of all nations are venal and amoral. the intent is to survive, and while countries may have allies, none have friends. i think it is best to remember that.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

sorry I posted all that Don, I got upset, I was not able to sleep last night at all. I was reliving those years again over and over. Will not put a post like that up again. I admire the photographers who place themselves in harms way, they are all brave folks,