The Nation (Thailand) January 12, 2005
More people should be talking about U-tapao
The Thai political opposition, struggling to redefine its identity [A very poor showing from the Democrats, Editorial, January 10], is strangely silent on a critical issue that deserves vigorous discussion in the public sphere, even as the nation mourns: the Pentagon has returned in force to its old Vietnam War haunts at U-tapao Royal Thai Naval Air Force Base in Chon Buri.
Many Thais will concur that the terrible tragedy of the seaquake should not serve as some sort of subterfuge or potential Trojan Horse for strengthening the US military presence in this region. A number of Thailands neighbours in Asean will not be enthusiastic about the prospect of U-tapao revived under the Stars and Stripes.
Some American analysts believe that wrapped in the guise of a major long-term aid and reconstruction package the return to U-tapao base represents a significant bolstering of American military might in the area. Geopolitics doesnt go away. It meshes well with a central aim of Washingtons evolving policy in this part of the planet.
As an article in The Nation entitled Terror Offensive: US wants forward base here [News, June 12, 2003] noted, the Pentagons interest in a base on Thai soil was broached in June 2003 during the prime ministers visit to Washington.
The plan, now in full swing, is to set up a command centre for the tsunami emergency relief effort, with U-tapao air base as a kind of regional hub. The ongoing emergency relief operations provide a windfall geopolitical opportunity for Washington, part of the rapidly developing Pentagon strategy of forward positioning establishing so-called air cargo hubs where American forces can stash equipment and enter and leave as desired.
Can this be in the longer-term interest of the Thai nation' Since military operations are inevitably hidden from public scrutiny, what can the Thai and American public hope to know about this renewal of a massive Pentagon presence a few kilometres south of Pattaya'
As many people will recall, during the Vietnam War, U-tapao functioned as a major staging base for B-52s carrying out bombing raids over North Vietnam (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/utapao.htm).
Thai citizens should ponder well whether this large-scale military redeployment is simply to maximise and coordinate humanitarian aid efforts. Many nations are sending relief of all kinds but not their marines, navy and air force. The tragedy of the present devastation should not serve as a pretext for beefing up the US military presence from India to Indonesia, with the linchpin at Chon Buris southern tip. This deserves a full public airing and discussion here.
Bill TemplerSikao, Trang
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