Mamasapano: on proximate cause and the butterfly effect

Posted by JoeAm on March 18, 2015 · 144 Comments 

 Why Napena’s Oplan is the “proximate cause”, and not the break in chain of command by Andrew Lim With the Board of Inquiry’s report and the Senate Committee’s report now both out, everyone has an opinion on: who is to blame (to hold responsible or to place responsibility for; very imprecise and can be based solely … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

The Philippines’ myth of sovereignty

Posted by josephivo on March 1, 2015 · 272 Comments 

by josephivo I was so fortunate to have had a very motivating history teacher in the last years of high school. Sovereignty was one of his favorite subjects. Luckily there is Wikipedia and Peter Watson’s book “Ideas” to refresh some events and concepts. Sovereignty might have a precise definition in international legislation, but the meaning changed over … Continue reading →

Category China, Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government, USA/Americans

Moving forward after Mamasapano

Posted by JoeAm on February 25, 2015 · 144 Comments 

 I have a hard time doing a comprehensive review of Day 5 of the Senate public hearings on the Mamasapano conflict due to periodic brownouts on Biliran.  I did catch the middle part of the hearing, and it was pretty heavy . . . emotional, tense, argumentative. Constructive. Here are the highlights of what I … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government

Day 4 of the Senate Mapasapano hearings

Posted by JoeAm on February 23, 2015 · 101 Comments 

The 4th day of public hearings focused on the responsibility of the President in the Mamasapano fighting, the engagement of the cease fire team, the role of the US, the commitment of the MILF to Philippine law and order, and, pushed back to private hearing, the operating failures and lack of coordination between PNP and AFP. … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

How the Daily Inquirer makes the Philippines an angry nation

Posted by JoeAm on February 22, 2015 · 154 Comments 

I’ve argued that Philippine media contribute in a major way to the dysfunction, strife and negative attitudes many Filipinos have toward their nation, their government, specific people (such as President Aquino), and even Filipinos as a whole. I’d like to pursue this by looking at some specifics. There are several points to bear in mind as … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Citizenship/Patriotism, Foreign Affairs and Defense, USA/Americans