Word: aquinos
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Coup plotters have taken advantage of the resulting frustration among the younger officers to organize against Aquino. According to Candido Filio, a military analyst with the University of the Philippines, Gringo Honasan did not need support from the top brass to launch last week's coup attempt. "He has been working the line of company commanders," says Filio. As it turned out, at least two generals joined the rebellion...
...fact, most stood by Aquino, including Senate President Jovito Salonga, who has been critical of her policies. "It took so many years and so much sacrifice to get rid of the dictatorship," said Salonga. "We must protect this democracy despite all its faults and weaknesses...
Since independence in 1946, the Philippines has struggled with its complex love-hate, parent-child relationship with America. Already accused by nationalists of being an American lackey, Aquino had shrewdly kept her silence -- and "my options open" -- in the matter of renewing the leases on Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Base, two of the largest U.S. installations in the world. Now that she has shown herself dependent on U.S. forces there, Aquino may be hopelessly compromised when negotiations on renewing the leases begin shortly. Says a Filipino intelligence officer: "Let's not even talk about the U.S. bases...
...American people. But I believe it is morally wrong for Ambassador Platt to take sides because it will mean more bloodshed." Saving democracy may be its own reward, but for the U.S., this rescue could have long-term costs. Now that Washington has used force to prop up the Aquino regime, will anything less do the next time a threat arises...
WORLD: Another coup attempt imperils Aquino...