The drug issue, which was nothing more than a relatively benign normal State comment about concern over the situation, was just the latest excuse. He's using it to chest thump and rile up some long-brewing anti-U.S. sentiment in the name of national pride. Since inauguration, he's been dragging out everything he can to bolster his anti-U.S. message. Moro massacre, '02 mystery bomb, "US won't sell us arms" (what?), SOF presence increases violence," "we don't get as much money as Pakistan"...I was in Manila last year before the election during the campaign and he met with the international Embassy crowd and said some particularly anti-U.S. things that were so out there he may as well have farted into the mic. I think he wagered we would blink or announce some new aid plus-up (when they already get over 50% of FMF in PACOM, plus MSI, plus 2282, plus CN...). Meanwhile popular support steadily increases, I went again in August and every other car has a pro-D bumper sticker, this week's protests at the U.S. Embassy...commence descent checklist...
