February 23, 1990

Aquino Has Secret Death Wish

Philippines President Corazon Aquino apparently has a secret death wish.

In any event, she may have made a personally fatal mistake by snubbing U.S. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney during his recent Asian tour. Certainly she set in motion the beginning of the end of her administration.

The next military coup against her-the seventh-will be successful because the United States will not provide protective air cover for her as it did last December.

Her nemesis, Lt. Col. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan is out there somewhere biding his time, and that time is at hand.

Honasan led a 1987 army uprising which fizzled. However, he escaped and is widely believed to have masterminded last December’s coup attempt that nearly succeeded.

It is noteworthy that following the latest fracas, 1,000 mutineer soldiers marched back to their barracks fully armed. Aquino is a hostage to that hostile cadre undoubtedly taking orders from Honasan.

Aquino refused to meet with Cheney to discuss renewal of leases for six American military bases that expire in 1991. She and her government demand $481 million a year for the remaining two years, and President Bush has agreed. However, Congress cut the payment to $385 million.

Leftist guerrillas and Philippine nationalists have agitated for years to kick out the Americans -regardless of the dollars that soldiers and their families pour into the economy. Several U.S. servicemen have been killed in recent years by Philippine terrorists.

Aquino probably is trying to walk a thin line between American presence and Marxist demands. It is a losing stance.

As Niccolo Machiavelli pointed out four centuries ago in his handbook for leaders, “The Prince:”

“If you do not show your sympathies, you will be an easy prey for the winner to the delight and satisfaction of the loser. Also, you will have no reason to expect anyone to defend you or give you refuge.”

Cheney demonstrated this truism when he bluntly told his Philippines counterpart, Fidel Ramos, that the U.S. wants to continue stationing defense forces there but is increasingly limited in ability to pay for foreign bases.

“The United States will stay only as long as the Philippines people and the government want us-and only under conditions that are acceptable to both parties,” said Cheney.

Aquino has not grasped the import of the collapse of Soviet communism. It no longer is imperative that the U.S. police the world.

The time has come for Europe, Japan, Korea, and Philippines to defend themselves - perhaps with a modicum of American assistance, but not on total reliance.

Our free-loading allies must accept the new, world reality. Uncle Sam is no longer capable of, or required by self interest to, guarantee world peace.

Senator Bob Dole, R-Kan., gave fair warning of American intentions last month. He proposed that foreign aid to present recipients be cut by 10 percent, and the money be funneled to emerging democracies in Eastern Europe.

The Philippines now receive $281 million in direct aid in addition to lease payments - the sixth largest of 120 recipients of U.S. grants.

Israel with $3.1 billion annually in direct U.S. aid, and Egypt with $1.6 billion, also are upset with Dole’s proposed cut. However, they have not been so stupid as to throw away the still considerable contributions promised.

The world has changed a great deal in the past six months - in large part by American persistence-and will change a good deal more in the coming months.

Uncle Sam is no longer in a mood to put up with insults and ultimatums from beneficiaries of his generosity.

Aquino is likely to be the first fatality in the ranks of Third World leaders who have made careers of pulling tail feathers from the American eagle.

THE PASSING PARADE

Marla Maples, house pet to the rich and famous, has been quoted by a magazine as saying Donald Trump gave her “the best sex I’ve ever had!” It is amazing what $2 billion can do for your reputation.

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist