Share your thoughts

Discussion 1 : 22/10/2012 at 03:34 PM

Bula d55- 'that thinking and assumption are dangerous' unfortunately for you that was history as it unfolded in 1945 and you cannot change it. Changing the facts of history would be dangerous.

Discussion 2 : 22/10/2012 at 07:41 AM

Bangon #50 - I am not a fan of UDD. To use the word "rabbid" in such manner in your posting was insulting and derogatory.

Discussion 3 : 22/10/2012 at 06:16 AM

john49 #49 - I wrote to see if anyone wanted to VERIFY my info. I did not say, ".....it was the US who decisively ended world war 2 with two atomic bombs thus saving an estimated 200,000 allied lives..." That thinking and assumption are dangerous. It gives countries like Iran and North Korea the right to build up their nuclear arms and use them.

Discussion 4 : 22/10/2012 at 03:53 AM

Khun Alexa #52, I guess your appreciation of the US depends on what kind of enemy you have breathing down your neck, like that of Hitler during WWII, or USSR during the Cold War, or Al Qaeda in the War on Terror now. If a few more deadly bombs going off in London's subway, I am sure the US would look like gold in the eyes of the British people. And don't forget whose nukes the British submarines are carrying in order to ensure British national security and sovereignty! If you think the US is so bad, tell me who is better, both past and present? Talk is cheap, but action is precious, OK?

Discussion 5 : 21/10/2012 at 09:13 PM

dis 48 the temple's were not built by thai's and by the way tax-sin in bed with the cambodian PM gave them to combodia for land in ko kong to build a casino

Discussion 6 : 21/10/2012 at 08:28 PM

Disc 44, Khun Spiceman. Yes I mean all those countries, but not limited to. I am in a multi national environment where the American presence is not appreciated nor liked.

Discussion 7 : 21/10/2012 at 08:26 PM

Reading all these comments I think most people regard America the same as they do Marmite, or Vegemite if you are down under.

Discussion 8 : 21/10/2012 at 08:11 PM

alexa: Your comments make me wonder. Are you possibly highly educated and of (recent) Chinese descent? Nothing personal, just curious, you're not related to the rabbid UDD fans like 'bula' or 'eric', and you show more knowledge than 'ggh', but less nuances as 'khunbj'? PS: Sorry, was not able to read your comment about Nakhon si Thammarat, as the topic has miraculously totally vanished from the forum. Seen that before from BP, when it's a 'too successfull topic' or when the debate is heating up a bit; Must be the local interpretation of freedom of opinion, probably closely linked to the local interpretation of 'Democracy' (capital 'D')...

Discussion 9 : 21/10/2012 at 07:38 PM

Alexa d42-'why not ask the world about their experience of America?' America have allies including your country the UK, countries who have had alliances with the US over many decades. How many countries have participated in the war in Afghanistan including your country? As Khun Bula rightly says, it was the US who decisively ended world war 2 with two atomic bombs thus saving an estimated 200,000 allied lives. Now, what is your answer on the rights of the people of Tibet? The conflict in Syria would not have lasted this long if China and Russia had not obstructed. action in the UN security Council.

Discussion 10 : 21/10/2012 at 07:06 PM

I think that USA have forgive Vietnam for all bad thing they did to USA soldiers in Vietnam war. And also we must think wherever USA go, only develop for better..Look at South Korea, and Japan, now big economy. I think USA will helping Thailand fight Cambodia if Cambodia invade our temple again, because USA and Thailand..we are like twin.

Discussion 11 : 21/10/2012 at 06:52 PM

Well Khunbill, thankfully most of us are no more the puppets that the USA would like us to be. Beware !

Discussion 12 : 21/10/2012 at 06:48 PM

Read: The Strategic Studies Institute's 2006 "String of Pearls" report, and Robert Kagan's (architect of Iraq War) "What China Knows That We Don't: The Case for a New Strategy of Containment" (1997). The US plans on stitching together SE Asia to use as a battering ram against China - guess who gains? Guess who loses? ASEAN is the next EU - a failure in the making, consolidating Asia's resources so Goldman Sachs only has to reach into one cookie jar to rob everyone blind.

Discussion 13 : 21/10/2012 at 06:40 PM

not only do we have a few people who admire a convicted criminal,that evidence was well documented in the highest court of law,the same people dislike the amercian,sounds like comradeship and dictatorship is acceptable to some

Discussion 14 : 21/10/2012 at 06:22 PM

Khun Alexa #42, do you mean England, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, and etc?

Discussion 15 : 21/10/2012 at 05:14 PM

Anyone wants to verify the following information? 1. Since after World War 2, the American has not won a war. 2. American had to use two atomic bombs in order to win WW2. 3. It started 174 international conflicts (including wars) since 1945. 4. Its weapon sale is one-third of total export.

Discussion 16 : 21/10/2012 at 05:04 PM

D41, john49. Why not ask the world about their experience of America ?

Discussion 17 : 21/10/2012 at 04:37 PM

Why not ask the people of Tibet their experiences with China, or the people involved in the riots in Bejing? People who have first hand knowledge.

Discussion 18 : 21/10/2012 at 04:32 PM

Khun Somnamna #36, Russian jet engines are known to be smoky, which includes those that power MIG-29 and all of its variants. The same with all of the Chinese derivatives. The inside scoop is that the West refuses to sell the Russian the digital fuel control technology as well as HOTAS (Hand-onb Throttle & Stick), and the Russians are hopelessly lost in this digital avionics arena. It also explains why all Russian jets are handicapped with significant shorter payload/range than their western counterparts of the same sizes. US pilots are trained to spot smoky trail made by all Russian-made jets, especially, while coming out of afterburner.

Discussion 19 : 21/10/2012 at 04:31 PM

disc# Greed is a human instinct singling out America is not fair. Look what the Britsh empire did along with the French, Dutch, for example they all still have oversea interest and have stolen land and have stolen land.

Discussion 20 : 21/10/2012 at 04:20 PM

Correction in my quote from Alexa disc#34 "we would be happier WITHOUT being told what to do"

Discussion 21 : 21/10/2012 at 04:08 PM

I would like to welcome USA Navy to ASEAN. USA Navy must be tired coming far from home. I am hope they enjoy islands around Malaysia and Vietnam. Many beautiful place. We specially look forward to seeing them in Thailand ka..and thank you for caring for asia ka.

Discussion 22 : 21/10/2012 at 03:44 PM

D#28 Khum Spiceman: 50% of that engine components are made by the French and all the avionics used in it by British Avionics now why the smoke is there I really don't know.

Discussion 23 : 21/10/2012 at 03:39 PM

China is 'the' imperialist world power of this time (funny to remember how Mao and his followers were always condemning the 'American imperialism')! Look at how some Thai politicians and part of the opinion are p...ing their pants when there's any small thing here that could eventually displease the 'big brother'. Thai pride? Yeah, sure! Would it be that Thailand has already been swallowed (and digested) by China? Look at the 'new elite': politics, commerce, industry, banking, etc., how many of the 'big guns' are NOT of (recent) Chinese descent?

Discussion 24 : 21/10/2012 at 03:35 PM

Disc#21 "We would be happier being told what to do" speak for yourself. Not "we" Since when does America dictate and tell ASEAN what to do? Example: Thailand refused NASA access.

Discussion 25 : 21/10/2012 at 03:08 PM

Yes, in front of the screens, the USA is for over 60 years the 'big bully' of the world... Yes, they speak and act in the American way, offensive to a majority of non-US citizens... Yes, it's as if the State Department is governed by Murphy's law... Yes, a lot of big mistakes there, and a huge lack of understanding for non-American situations... BUT, we would be writing here in Japanese today (or not al all...) without the American help (and in German all over Europe), or we would all wear a red shirt (sorry Khun Weng, not) and do it in Chinese (and in Russian in Europe). We should never forget history: WW2 anyone, communist expansion any

Discussion 26 : 21/10/2012 at 03:02 PM

#26 No, China will not do that because they cannot afford to do it. China didn't buy and hold US treasuries to do them a flavor but rather it was a deliberate act to manipulate foreign exchange against US Dollar so that Renminbi has been relatively artificially low and hence boosted/maintained their exports advantage which have been their core economy. To dump US treasuries is to suddenly abandon parts of their strategy that made them stand here in the first place. And no other countries can absorb China's surplus of this magnitude without instigate politcal hostility or trade war of some kind.

Discussion 27 : 21/10/2012 at 02:58 PM

'The United States has taken no side in the territorial disputes among China and its neighbours.' Officially, that's on the record, but everyone knows that actions speak louder than words. The US has said other similar things about Taiwan and then supplied them with weapons, which has angered China to no end. Tibet and the Dali Lama's visits to the White House... oh the list is endless. When will politicians stop acting like diplomats and call it what it is?! Just stop beating around the bush for a change!

Discussion 28 : 21/10/2012 at 02:42 PM

"Beware when amerika wants to be your friend. It means they want something,probably at your peril as they have no conscience. Greed rules their thoughts." Just look at all the land and wealth they seized after World Wars I and II. It is absolutely shocking.

Discussion 29 : 21/10/2012 at 02:42 PM

Luckily we can dismiss this article as a "word from our sponsor". It might represent the wishful thinking's of the US and its cronies but the Asean s are smarter than to invite a foreign thug with a big gun to settle internal disputes.

Discussion 30 : 21/10/2012 at 02:39 PM

Khun Somnamna #25, I thought the engines of those Malaysian SU-30 MKMs (Lyulka AL-31FP) are made by NPO Saturn in Russia. If they are made by the French engine maker, they won't be smoky for sure, as none of the French current jets, the Mirage 2000, F-1, or their state-of-the art Rafale, has smoky engines. You know the French, they rather fly & fight in style, and smoky engines aren't gonna do it. The early Concord first had smoky engines too but the British & French engine makers got rid of it, despite of Concord being civil aircraft. The inside scoop is that the Russians have yet to perfect their digital fuel control technology.

Discussion 31 : 21/10/2012 at 02:38 PM

D#26 Khun Soltair: I am in agreement with you but tell me which country don't create fiat money today? even the mighty UK, Japan & Switzerland with their respectful currency do it. Chinese never think for the long term they just think day and night how to rope others as fast as possible.

Discussion 32 : 21/10/2012 at 01:36 PM

In my humble opinion, it's all smoke (pun intended) and mirrors. The US is bankrupt and is only print money, they could not ever afford to wage war on a large size enemy as China. The West thinks short term, Chinese long term, look how the Chines run the show here. If China would claim it's outstanding money from the US it (the US) is closing shop, and both know it.

Discussion 33 : 21/10/2012 at 01:24 PM

D#3 Khum Spiceman: Those engines were not made by the Russians, the main contractor was turbomeca of France now ask the Malaysian why.

Discussion 34 : 21/10/2012 at 12:53 PM

D11 The US announced long ago they were moving their hardware into this region, so China is just flexing it's muscles to see who reacts and how, we've already seen the Philippines retreat, only Japan has shown it's not playing games. Vietnam is a determined nation they aren't scared of China, with or without USA they will protect their sovereignty. But I reckon China would be more interested in invading Laos and having more control over the Mekong region.

Discussion 35 : 21/10/2012 at 12:36 PM

There are many angles to the Chinese claims. The first and most important at present is the deflection of the Chinese public away from the Bo scandal, the economic problems and the change of leadership. The second one is the testing of the US response to the Chinese claims. This response will be build into their future strategy. Remember the Chinese work with a long term objective in mind and not immediate results. My only concern is that if the Chinese economy should fail, they would use these claims to generate nationalism that could turn into an armed conflict, all in an effort by the communists to stay in power.

Discussion 36 : 21/10/2012 at 12:35 PM

It is the policy of containment that the US must exercise and see that those small countries are secure from the mighty neighbor aggression. The disputed rocks must be sorted out by those countries themselves by peaceful mean.

Discussion 37 : 21/10/2012 at 12:30 PM

Somnamna, have you woke up yet or are you still dreaming. Only joking. I think you will find that the worlds overall consensus is that the Americans have over stayed their welcome. If they went home and kept their nose out of other countries business, or should I say just about nearly every countries business. We would live happier without being told what to do. It would also be nice to know that we are not being used for their political nor strategic gain. You may have realized that I do not love America.

Discussion 38 : 21/10/2012 at 12:14 PM

Put it this way. Would you rather have the US Navy patroling the western Pacicfic and South china Sea or the chinese?

Discussion 39 : 21/10/2012 at 12:05 PM

In realistic terms the US could flatten China, as long as it was an air and sea battle. Come to that so could Japan. China would win any land war and also has a nuclear capability. By making a maritime challenge China has played into the hands of her opponents, it was a bluff which has been called. China is now trying to step back a bit and rely more on her stooges in ASEAN, mainly Cambodia. However both Myanmar and Thailand are likely to seek for advantage in the middle ground.

Discussion 40 : 21/10/2012 at 12:02 PM

I am sure as others do it is good to remind ourselves just how necessary that military presence really is and hell yes somebody is going to be occupying the position of the US globally and there are a number of people who’d love the withdrawal of this military. Now let’s asks who it is going to fill in the gap the vacuum created?? As we can see the presence of the US military globally doesn’t looks so bad :) or dose it (this is a question for the fanatics) do we really want Yankee to Go Home? Hell yes we don’t. Thank you America.

Discussion 41 : 21/10/2012 at 11:59 AM

Look how China will end its dispute with Taiwan, What would North Korea gets up to? What the Japanese military ambition when they know the US shield is gone sure their military budget will rise up sky high & yeah not for the defense reasons? What Iran will do to solve its issues with Gulf States esp. Saudi Arabia not to mention taking over Iraq Syria & Lebanon!! Even smaller issues like in Balkans once the US is gone the ultranationalist will steer the war wheel again! Most Europe is stable cuz of these forces too.

Discussion 42 : 21/10/2012 at 11:58 AM

In spite of all the nasty stuff the US military gets up to in its more controversial deployments & in terms of wider world wither we like it or not the US military is a force of stability in the world, yes no body like what some of its members are doing in Iraq or Afghanistan or any other places but let’s just said one day the US decided to close all its military bases around the world & withdraw their troops and personal back home?!! What will happen if that action takes place?

Discussion 43 : 21/10/2012 at 11:22 AM

Don't underestimate the USA. We still are the most giving and generous nation on the face of the earth. I am not in total agreement of our government policies, but one thing is for sure we will ensure peace, and stability throughout the world at any cost. Why people think we go into war or conflicts to take over there country, or their natural resources is totally untrue. We take nothing...but instead we give our blood to ensure the people of the world can live a better life. Were not a perfect country...but one thing is for sure, we still are the last hope of the world.

Discussion 44 : 21/10/2012 at 11:22 AM

mathew Check your history, there has been a lot of bad blood between VN and China for centuries so its not so much a choice but a will. And please tell me what interest does US have to achieve you mentioned in ASEAN besides a good relationships as they have had for years

Discussion 45 : 21/10/2012 at 11:16 AM

Just let China chop all the forest, slaughter all the wildlife, copy everything, only sell and never buy, only take for free and become the example for world leadership, and America go home and never ever come back, right ?

Discussion 46 : 21/10/2012 at 11:16 AM

Seriously why we have to bring history into this matter? China with its crying imperialistic aggressive politics want to swallow everything in the region and when this happened wouldn't ASEAN just wished if the US intervene before it?

Discussion 47 : 21/10/2012 at 11:09 AM

pitanu disc #1 A lot of things have changed since VN war. Don't under estimate the power of the US Navy. Any conflict with China will be mostly on the water and air which US is far more superior. China won't know what hit them! BUT I doubt seriously anything will happen

Discussion 48 : 21/10/2012 at 10:50 AM

Vietnam and Laos have no other choice so the Choose USA to befriend with. But in the long term there will be dilemma as the United States will only take advantage of ASEAn to achieve their interests. Mark my word, China will fight any ASEANs and the United States will stand idly by.

Discussion 49 : 21/10/2012 at 10:28 AM

I love you America.

Discussion 50 : 21/10/2012 at 09:21 AM

Beware when amerika wants to be your friend. It means they want something,probably at your peril as they have no conscience. Greed rules their thoughts. No one wins at war.

Discussion 51 : 21/10/2012 at 09:19 AM

Capt Fenton stated, "It is our goal to see the region's nations figure out these tensions ... on their own" I think you're hoping China believes this, I don't think they will. Neither will the majority of the world.

Discussion 52 : 21/10/2012 at 09:06 AM

china is certainly causing unnessarary hostile problems with its neighbors is this the reason why thailand turned down a fantastic opputurnity with the NASA project ?

Discussion 53 : 21/10/2012 at 08:47 AM

The US can do what they wanna do, in some years time China will take over the area and use their influence in the whole area as the US used to do for decades, it is all about business and natural resources and feeding the populations.

Discussion 54 : 21/10/2012 at 08:39 AM

US President Obama needs to be very clear with the people of the region what his intention is with his strategic shift in foreign policy for the Asian region. With Marines in Northern Australia and the dramatic shift of the US Naval fleet, this will without a doubt be very alarming for the region. We all assume it is to contain the rapid expansion of the Chinese. The US Government should be very specific with it’s goals.

Discussion 55 : 21/10/2012 at 08:39 AM

From the bottom picture, it is hard to believe that the Russians, after all these years, are yet to solve the problem of "smoky," engines, which is a tremendous disadvantageous during air combat, not to mention poor fuel economy.

Discussion 56 : 21/10/2012 at 08:22 AM

So, will the USN now take liberty in Vietnam instead of Thailand. TAT - wake up!

Discussion 57 : 21/10/2012 at 08:22 AM

The US with all their hardware couldn't win the war with Vietnam what makes them think they can go up against China?