Is NATO Still Relevant With The United States?

 

European Union Members

(Source: By SiBr4 -  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30352945)

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949 primarily to counter and curtail the foreseeable expansion and influence of the USSR (and then the Warsaw Pact Countries) in Europe after World War II.

The demise of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1989 and the breakup of the Warsaw Pact countries, considered as the “A” list nations in terms of threats to the US national security interests, has caused the United States’ foreign policy on defense to pivot slowly and strategically to the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, and with the current administration looking closely at China, North Korea, and Iran while still maintaining its radar on the USSR, now simply called as Russia.

As the saying goes in geopolitics, there are no permanent friends but only permanent interests. So, after the USSR’s disintegration, three former Soviet Republics, i.e., Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, 11 Warsaw Pact Countries, i.e., Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, as well as Finland (a former Soviet territory), Sweden (historically neutral), and Germany have changed their allegiances as Soviet satellite countries and became part of NATO.  

The political and military realignment of the former Soviet satellite countries into the Western coalition is akin to a tectonic shift, transforming communist/socialist states into democratic nations and thereby lessening the threat posed by Russia to the United States.

Again, there are no permanent friends but only permanent interests. The United States fought against the Italian, German, and Japanese forces in World War II. Now these three countries are trading partners and military allies of the Americans. Russians who fought alongside the Americans in World War II to defeat the German forces became the United States’ archenemy. Still, its political clout and military capabilities (except for the nuclear warheads) around the world have diminished.

According to open sources, over the past 75 years, since NATO's creation, the United States has contributed an estimated $21.9 trillion to the alliance’s defense budget, significantly more than the 32 members. An estimated $36 billion was spent on direct protection of Europe, including troop presence and infrastructure, in 2018. What about the aid to Ukraine? As of 2025, the US government had appropriated approximately $187 billion to Ukraine to fund its fight against Russia, thereby lessening the logistical burden on the European Union members and NATO forces.

Right after World War II, the United States, through the Marshall Plan or the European Recovery Program, started an initiative to help 16 European countries get back on their feet and provided around $13.3 billion ( (equivalent to over $130 billion today) to “rebuild economies, prevent communist takeovers, and create strong markets for U.S. goods, offering funds for food, fuel, machinery, and technical assistance.” The Marshall Plan was a total success, given how Europe has become an economic powerhouse today.

The United States has done so much for the European Union and NATO, and with the deafening calls from the Europeans for the American Forces to leave their continent because of the Greenland issue, the Trump Administration must take the ingrates and anti-American peoples’ proposition seriously and let them protect their continent this time against Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

While the United States is funding trillions of dollars on the defense and security of Europe, it’s allowing the European Union members to concentrate and allocate their spending in building powerhouse economies like those in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The parasitism relationship between the United States and the European Union must stop. The Europeans can now handle the Russians in Ukraine without the United States' military aid and protection. Can they do it, really?

For the last time, there are no permanent friends but only permanent interests. Now, the Europeans consider the Americans as their enemies, while the United States’ national security interests have now shifted to the Western Hemisphere,  the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific Region. The primary threat is no longer Russia but China. American allies such as Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines welcome the presence of US military forces in the region, forming alliances similar to NATO. There is no better time to move the US troops and military infrastructures from Europe to the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and, of course, Greenland.   

By the way, Europeans are saying that there were about 1000 soldiers from the European Union who died in the United States' GWOT in Iraq and Afghanistan, so the Trump Administration must shut up and give up its interest in Greenland. Let me say this, though: around 250,000 American soldiers died in the European theater during World War II, trying to protect and liberate the continent from the war machines of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Yes, You Can Be A Published Author, Too!

(The spy novel Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra is rated Five-Star by the Readers’ Favorite.)

So, do you want to write a book? A full-length novel? I’m telling you it’s not an easy goal. But if you have discipline and perseverance, yes, you can be a published author, too.

Okay, let me tell you this to motivate you. It took me 15 years to finish my novel, Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra—ten years of daydreaming and five years of actual writing.

Yes, those ten lost years didn’t amount to anything except that they filled my dream basket with buts and ifs.  Doubts were my unwelcome visitors and later became my unwanted companions.  In those fledgling years, my enthusiasm for writing waned, and at times, a week passed by without even a single page to credit.  Unbelief led to procrastination.  I almost gave up on writing and thought of letting Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra die a natural death.  I prepared for its wake and was ready to mourn its passing.

You see, unlike other writers who pride themselves on a BA in English or an MFA in Creative Writing, I admit I have neither one of those coveted degrees.  Nevertheless, the dearth of writing skills didn’t discourage me from moving on; on the contrary, it bolstered me even more to work harder. Who Dares Wins, just like what the SAS motto says.

To hone my writing skills, I became a self-educated writer.  I read some "How to Write" articles online and borrowed reference materials from the library.  I also bought books on creative writing and slowly built myself a mini library.  I went further and subscribed to magazines like Writer’s Digest and Poets & Writers.  A writer must be a reader first!

Some of the books I read were How to Write a Thriller, Grammatically Correct, 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes, Rewrite Right, St. Martin's Guide to Writing, Writer to Writer, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Plot & Structure, and other self-help books.  I also read the works of some great novelists, such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum, and Ken Follett.  Tom Clancy showed up later in my writing life.

If you want to improve your writing skills, you must study the great works of those master storytellers.

My manuscript didn't come out easily.  I juggled everything in life – family, full-time job, and church activities. Writing always showed up at the bottom of my schedule.  Especially during the times my son had out-of-state soccer tournaments! 

I got my solitude only when everyone at home (or at the hotel) was asleep.  My creative juices usually flowed from ten at night to one in the morning.  So, imagine it was hard for me to go to my real job the following morning, half-dead like a zombie.

The last two years of writing Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra were a grueling experience for me.  I felt like I’d sailed into the unknown depths of literary seas, fishing for elusive words that often escaped my convoluted mind.  It was an arduous struggle from the start, and more than anything else, the process tested my patience and sanity. Really.

My indomitable will compelled me to endure those difficult years.  And during these times, a small voice, which could have been from an angel, cajoled me relentlessly, saying, "You have a good story to share with the world, so don't give up." Well, that was my daughter.

So, I pressed on, and I worked harder than ever before. My creative thoughts flowed naturally this time.  I saw how my story metamorphosed from a lethargic draft to a promising manuscript.  Afterwards, I started forming Beta Readers—friends who’d provided critiques of my manuscript without getting any compensation. Bless their souls. The last year was nerve-racking for me, given all the writing and rewriting and editing, and everything that came in between that cycle.

Finally, my novel Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra came out, but not without experiencing the blood, sweat, and tears of writing.  Oh, the joy and pain of writing!

You see, some writers have natural flair, and their literary wells overflow with an abundance of words.  Those skilled ones could produce a novel in three months or even in one month! You heard about NaNoWriMo?  I really envy those gifted writers.  Me? I’m just an ordinary guy with two simple writing traits:  discipline and perseverance – two enviable qualities that helped me complete my spy novel, and two non-fiction books titled Creating the Department of Homeland Security: A Public Policy Process and Managing the Philippines’ War on Terror from 1969 to 2005: A Case Study in Public Administration.

Let me share with you some points to ponder from Andre Jute, the author of Reverse Negative.  In his book Writing a Thriller, he said, “A Nobel laureate told me that, within a six block radius of the pub we were in, there were a hundred better writers than either of us . . . The difference between us, as published writers, and them as unpublished writers . . . was merely that we sat down and wrote a page a day or ten pages a day . . . and they didn’t.”  He also said, “The writer’s greatest virtue is never to give up.  If you were born stubborn, obstinate, and plain pig-headed, you have a good start.”

So, do you really want to write a book and become a published author?  Well, the only thing that can stop you from achieving your goal is—You! Take this advice from an ESL author. I hope my story will motivate you to write if nothing else.  Quit dreaming and start writing! 

*The spy novel Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra is rated Five-Star by the Readers’ Favorite and available in paperback and eBook at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Rakuten Kobo.*

    

 

Since 1969, the Philippine government has been battling Communist Terrorists, yet it has not gained complete control of the security situation in the country in 2005. Considering the experiences gained in the long years of fighting terrorism, the police and the armed forces should have decimated the CPP/NPA and its Sparrow Unit and Alex Boncayao Brigade.  It could have successfully established peace and order throughout the nation, but the internal conditions during the period dictated otherwise.

The influx of foreign Islamists in Mindanao, like the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), and their association with the local terror groups, such as the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), has aggravated the already combustible situation in the South.  Subsequently, their close collaboration has become a serious threat to national security. ASG’s operational ties with JI and the Al-Qaeda network developed stronger as time went by, with bombings in Metro Manila and other parts of the country as their signature accomplishments.

So, what kept the Philippine government from winning its War on Terror, considering its counter-terror infrastructure, anti-terror policies and programs, and seasoned police and military forces?  What served as obstacles to the War on Terror that forestalled strategic successes? How did the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches miss the opportunity to collaborate in the War on Terror using the concepts and theories in public administration, as well as the utilization of the best practices in public governance?

The purpose of this case study is to analyze the anti-terrorism policies and programs of the Philippine government from 1969 to 2005 and examine why the governmental agencies responsible for enforcing them struggled to execute their mission, which consequently denied them complete victory.

This case study also focuses on the challenges faced by the Intelligence Community in its counter-terrorism operations. It presents how the system of governance hinders the Philippine government from achieving strategic success in the War on Terror.  Along this line, this book will examine how the prevailing culture in Philippine politics from 1969 to 2005 has impacted the intelligence operations against domestic and foreign terrorist groups.

: Available on eBook and Hard Copy. Order via amazon.com. 

 

For nine years, from the first bombing of the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993, to its second attack on September 11, 2001, the United States encountered ten major terrorist attacks on the US mainland and the United States' interests overseas. These attacks have resulted in the total death of 6101 and injuries to 19,735 people.

The blame game and political mudslinging from the Republican and Democratic parties have not produced any positive results to address the problems of terrorism. On the other hand, the crisis highlighted the years of a dysfunctional relationship within the Intelligence Community, which the United States Congress revisited through its fact-finding commission, ultimately leading to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The establishment of DHS was a public policy statement by the United States government to counter threats to national security. It was the proactive approach of the Bush Administration to its domestic policy on terrorism. DHS carries out all the federal government's terrorism activities and programs.

The DHS was the result of a policy choice by elected officials, and their policy output led to the creation of the Department. On the other hand, the policy impact was the effect of both the policy choice and policy output, which was to protect the homeland against terrorist attacks from both domestic and transnational groups. The process of establishing DHS went through six stages in the public policy process, and these are: Agenda Setting, Policy Formulation, Decision Making, Implementation, and Evaluation.

Available on Amazon.com. Get your eBook or Hard Copy or Both. 

Duterte, China, and the West Philippine Sea: The President's Betrayal

    You can’t make this stuff up, can you?

    While in office, former President Rodrigo Duterte sought to have the Philippines become a province of China, and he undermined the Philippines’ territorial claim over the West Philippine Sea.

    Did Duterte serve the interests of the Philippines during his presidency, or promote China's foreign policy in Southeast Asia? I believe it’s the second premise, and that’s a shame because his foreign policy was preeminently pro-CCP and supportive of Xi Jinping's. He turned his back on the Philippines' traditional ally, the United States. 

    Do you recall Duterte's public pronouncement in 2016, when he said, “It’s time to say goodbye to Washington.” (Foreign Policy, November 2, 2021)

    Duterte exhorting Xi Jinping to make the Philippines one of China’s provinces is somewhat reprehensible, if not treasonous.

    The West Philippine Sea and the expanse of the South China Sea aren’t only strategically important to China’s military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region. These areas are abundant in mineral resources, including oil, gas, and other forms of natural gas, and rank among the largest in the world. Additionally, 12 percent of the global fish catch originates from these coveted waters. Moreover, around 21 percent of worldwide trade passes through the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, equating to about $3.4 trillion in annual global trade.

(Photo Credit: GeoCurrents -- geocurrents.info.blog)

    China has no legal or historical claim to the West Philippine Sea. Its assertion of maritime ownership of the West Philippine Sea and/or the entire South China Sea is based solely on the map published by the Republic of China in 1947, titled "Map of South China Sea Islands," which demarcates its territorial claims with eleven dashes, extending from Malaysia in the south to  Taiwan in the north.  Later on, it was downgraded to a nine-dash line in 1952 when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took over the reins of government from the Kuomintang. 

    The Hague Permanent Court of Arbitration, an international tribunal, ruled in 2016 that the Philippines is the rightful claimant to the West Philippine Sea, which encompasses the Spratly Islands. This ruling is significant as it upholds the principles of international law and maritime rights as outlined in UNCLOS. But China, which didn't participate in the trial, defies this international court order with its relentless military provocations and incursions into the Philippine territory. 

    Even with the Hague's ruling, Duterte still sided with China and declared in 2021 that he'll 'throw away' Philippines' arbitral win versus China, “Sa usapang bugoy, sabihin ko sa iyo ibigay mo sa'kin, sabihin ko sa'yo putang ina, papel lang 'yan. Itatapon ko 'yan sa wastebasket.” (Phil Star, May 6, 2021)

   China's People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) military aggressions against the Philippine Coast Guard and the local fishermen's boats aren't only unlawful but dangerous as well. It should necessitate a robust condemnation from the United Nations (UN), especially given China's regular mockery of the legal frameworks outlined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Unfortunately, even the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are hesitant to express their official views on the PLAN's bullying or Grey Zone tactics in the West Philippine Sea, given China's primary trade partner status in the region.

    But the Philippines have found some great allies in the United States, the AUKUS alliance (comprising the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia), and the First Island Chain countries (including Japan and Taiwan), which have been vocal in their support for the Philippines and in their condemnation of China's aggressive actions and military adventurism in the region.

    Might isn't right when a powerful country like China flexes its military strength to harm and bully a small but sovereign nation like the Philippines.

    It's about time the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asserted the Philippines' sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. This isn't just a task for the Filipino government leaders but a responsibility that all Filipinos must relentlessly pursue. Filipinos must unite as a nation behind the Sun and Stars and stand together in defense of their country's sovereignty.

    Right now, President Duterte is facing trial  before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in  the Netherlands for “crime against humanity” while serving in public office, notably as the President; may justice prevail in the court of law, even though Duterte's administration deprived thousands of Filipinos of their legal rights to seek justice--the same rights afforded to him by the ICC. 

Five Stars! The Reader's Favorite Book Review of Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra

        https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/project-grandslam-the-zhongguo-orchestra

Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra by Jos Ilagan is a political thriller with strains of religious themes. York Ryder is a photojournalist tasked to cover US Secretary of State John Berzowski’s diplomatic delegation to the Philippines. However, things don’t go as planned, and before they knew it, Berzowski is killed and there are bomb threats.

Ryder was then given a new assignment: figure out who killed the secretary, locate the bombs, and make sure the killers don’t get a chance to kill anyone else. With the USA allies offering no help, Ryder works with the CIA and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency to figure out who did it. Turns out Hong Kong’s Kowloon Dragon is behind it all, and their next target is the President of the United States. The Kowloon Dragon has major plans, and it looks like York Ryder has to stop them before it is too late. 

Entertaining from the very start, Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra opens with an intriguing scene and makes you wonder if Ryder is more than just a photojournalist or a government agent. However, it is also a nod to Ryder’s capabilities as a journalist and as a reliable protagonist for readers.

The story is very complex and intriguing. Readers are always looking for the next clue, the next twist, and the next turn; however, they are never able to guess what will happen next.

Author Jos Ilagan maintains the suspense of the story even when we know the culprit. You can never guess what will happen next and if Ryder will be able to get the job done or not. The characters are well-rounded, they have space to develop and grow, and this is all a reader needs from an author! Fantastic!

A Basic Study of Postal Bomb: A Guide to Personal Security Measures

Personal Security Measures: How to Protect Yourself from Postal Bomb

         

                                                                                          (Photo Credit: The Atlantic, March 30, 2018 Issue)

          The spate of bombings that took place in Austin, Texas from March 2 to 20 this year had put the nation on edge.  Five package bombs exploded. Two people killed. Five critically injured. 

          For three weeks the lingering questions in the minds of law enforcers were: Is this another Ted “Unabomber” Kaczynski-style operation? Is the bomber (or bombers) domestic-bred or from a foreign group? What’s the bomber’s motive or objective? 

           The news report later revealed that the bombings were the handiworks of Mark Anthony Conditt, a self-professed psychopath who detonated a bomb and blew up himself when the police pulled him over on March 21. 

           Now, would this kind of terroristic act also happen in a place like Santa Clarita Valley? Yes, it could. In my eight years in counter-terrorism operations, I would say terrorists know no boundaries—they strike in rural and urban areas, in populated and isolated places. 

           Postal bomb is one of the methods used by terrorists in sowing chaos. A bomb of choice could be in the form of explosive or incendiary device. They come in envelopes no thicker than one-fourth inch or packages not more than twenty-two pounds in weight.

           So, what do we do to protect ourselves and our families? Two words—be vigilant. Always be observant at home and at work for any suspicious mails. 

           Below are pointers in handling postal deliveries. Although they’re designed for persons working in sensitive-government positions overseas and for executives in multinational corporations, personal security, however, is everyone’s responsibility, and so the succeeding guidelines apply to all even to the Santa Claritans. 

          The bomb can explode when opening the mail so one must be aware of the following tell-tale signs in handling a letter or a package. 

●     Do you normally receive letters or parcels from domestic or abroad? Pay attention to the foreign name and address of the sender. 

●     A key to look for is the postmark. Do you recognize the writing? Is it written in foreign style? 

●     Is the letter or parcel balanced? If it’s lopsided, treat it as a suspect. 

●     If the weight is excessive for its size, treat it as a suspect. 

●     Are there any small holes that could’ve resulted from wire punctures? 

●     Are there any grease or stain marks that could’ve caused by explosive sweating? 

●     Is there an unusual scent or aroma coming from the letter or parcel, something like the smell of almonds?   

●     In case of a letter (usually in brown envelope), check if there’s a stiffer that holds the content flat—like cardboard or metal. 

●     If the feel isn’t like just a folded paper inside, treat the envelope as a suspect. 

●     Check if there are any unusual outlines if you hold the envelope up to the light. 

●     Is the flap of the envelope sealed completely? Usually there’s a small gap on both sides. If so, treat it as a suspect. 

          What to do and not to do when you receive a suspected postal bomb in the office or at home:

●     Place the letter or the parcel on the flat surface. 

●     Make sure to place it in an open space away from the house or office.  If not possible, leave it on the flat surface, and then open the windows and doors. 

●     A bomb explodes strongly when it’s in a closed room. 

●     Clear the area of all persons immediately. 

●     Call the Security Staff if you’re in the office to make proper determination of consequent steps. 

●     When at home, call the LASD-SCV for determination and assistance. 

●     Don’t bend the envelope or the package. 

●     Don’t open the letter or the package. 

●     Don’t place the letter or the package in the water.

          What’s the chance of Austin-like incidents happening in Santa Clarita Valley? Not even one-percent. So why this article? Just a heads-up so you or your family members won’t become part of the 0.99-percent targets. There will always be copycats. Remember Thanh Cong Phan from Washington who mailed postal bombs to US military facilities and to the CIA HQS at the time Conditt is wreaking havoc in Texas? 

          Lastly, I would’ve you think twice of letting your minor children get the packages from your porch or mail box. I’m sure they want to help, and you want to see them off their Xbox and PlayStation. I never let mine. Paranoia? Friend, we’re living in different times. 

          Please take note, security is always inconvenient, but it’ll keep you and your loved ones safe. 

Beijing Goes Global: China to Expand Marine Force

(PLA Navy Frigate Yueyang. Photo by MC Specialist 1st Class Shannon Renfroe, Wikimedia Commons

) 

Hereunder article from Daniel Lang tells of an interesting topic about the strategic plan of the Chinese government to expand its military clout worldwide. China's People's Liberation Army (Navy) is going global. With its adventurous island-grabbing in West Philippine Sea, PLA (N) is now making its presence in Africa. 

So, from constructing an airstrip on a reclaimed area in Spratly Islands, the Chinese is now building a navy installation about four miles from Camp Lemonnier--United States' military base of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. 

In my book The Zhongguo Orchestra, I have discussed China's long-term objective of displacing the United States as the primary global power; and with the PLA increasing its military budget and expanding its armed forces, the Chinese keep the American military planners in Pentagon glued on their drawing tables as they strategize to counter the looming threat from Beijing.

Below is Lang's article.  

For most of its recent history, China has largely been a land power with no significant naval capabilities. They haven’t been able to exert much military influence beyond their coastline for hundreds of years. In fact, one of the reasons why Western powers had no trouble bullying China during the 19th and 20th centuries, was because the Imperial Navy under the Qing dynasty was incredibly weak. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that lately, China has been putting a lot of effort into building an effective overseas naval force. 

                                                                                         

Not only have they been busy constructing their first combat-ready aircraft carrier, the Chinese have also been developing new aircrafts to accompany it. Of course, a navy can’t really exert much military influence if it doesn’t have soldiers to deploy. That’s why Chinese officials have recently announced that they are preparing to rapidly expand the ranks of the People’s Liberation Army Marine Corps.

Chinese media is reporting the People’s Liberation Army’s ambitious new plans following the announcement of a 7 per cent increase to $AU200 billion in defence spending last week. Among the details to emerge is a move to boost China’s marine corps — highly trained and well equipped troops intended for rapid deployment and offensive missions launched from the sea — from an existing 20,000 troops to more than 100,000.

Chinese officials have stated this is to protect arterial maritime trade routes and enforce its growing overseas interests.

“What growing overseas interests” you might ask? Well, China has been in the process of building their first overseas military base in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa. And that base is expected to be completed this summer.

Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, commander of AfriCom, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he expected the Chinese base on the Horn of Africa to be operational later this summer. Without getting specific, Waldhauser said he recently met with Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh “and expressed our concerns about some of the things that are important to us about what the Chinese should not do at that location.”

The Chinese base would be about four miles from the U.S. base at Camp Lemonnier, one of the Pentagon’s largest and most important foreign military installations, where about 3,000 U.S. military personnel and contractors are assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

Given that base’s close proximity to Camp Lemonnier, China’s intentions are obvious. They want what the United States has, which is a vast overseas empire, and an expeditionary force that can reach any coastline in the world. They want to compete with our current role in the global theater. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough room in the world for two countries carrying out that role. We may very well be witnessing the first stages of a new conflict between the United States and China.

  

(Authored by Daniel Lang, Beijing Goes Global: China to Expand Marine Force by 400%; First Overseas Military Base Almost Complete, March 17, 2017. From SHTFplan.com)