1. Dr. Dante C. Simbulan, Sr.

2. A. THE 2009 US COUNTERINSURGENCY GUIDE 1. The 2009 US Counterinsurgency Guide was a joint project of several US Departments (State, Defense, Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Transportation, Director of National Intel and US AID 2. Emphasis on “Soft Power” without sacrificing a credible military force back-up. Involvement of non- military agencies like AID, etc. 3. World-wide Coverage under Global Unified Commands 4. For economic reasons, emphasis is to de-emphasize large overseas US bases (like Clark and Subic, Philippines) and have more small bases where mobile special forces acting on their own or in support of conventional forces of friendly or client states can be launched.

3. B. BUILDING UP AND CONSOLIDATING SPECIAL FORCES UNDER ONE UNIFIED COMMAND (US SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND UNDER A 4-STAR GENERAL) 2. All these Special Forces Units are organized and trained in their respective mother units but operational command and control is centralized in the headquarters of the US SOCOM in Florida, USA. 1. All Special Forces – Army (Green Beret, Rangers, etc.), Navy (SEALs), Air Force and Marine Commandos MacDill Air Force Base, Florida US Special Forces in Zamboanga

4. C. T HE R OLE OF O VERSEAS US BASES 1. As indicated in a Dec. 31, 2010 Pentagon report on US military strengths in the world, there are not so many major US bases, but US military presence is maintained throughout the world by various agreements with host countries (e.g. thru SOFA, MLSA, VFA, and other Military ACCESS agreements.) The only exceptions are the major headquarters of the US Global Commands. 2. The major assumption here is that in the foreseeable future, the US will not get herself involved in a major conventional war, even after having acquired the title of “lone superpower.” If the world economic crisis escalates into an upsurge of revolutionary movements for national and social liberation, the US hopes to use the local armed forces it trained and armed, with the “advice” of American COIN specialists, so these unrests can be quelled (she hopes.) 3. Given the above assumption, the emphasis is on the use of Special Forces  small, mobile and highly-trained units which, together with the military of so-called allies & client states, will try to wage the “global war on terror,” and against revolutionary wars of national and social liberation.

5. CONCLUSION 1. The application of “soft power” assumes that the host country and its military forces truly represent the people’s interest; that the so-called reforms instituted by the oligarchies that rule these countries will result in genuine changes that will remove the institutional injustices in society; that these reforms embodied in the US COIN Guide will truly solve the problem of poverty, social injustice, foreign domination and control of our economy, people’s empowerment and participation in government, and the economic life of the society. Are the ruling elites and their military pawns believable and credible? Has US Imperialism changed its colors? 2. The more intelligent sections of the society, including the socially-conscious and organized people, can see through the “psy-war” and public relations gimmicks embodied in the so-called “soft power” being peddled by the power elites and their US mentors.

6. CONCLUSION (CONTINUED) 3. Knowing the history of rivalry in the US Armed Forces, there is bound to be a struggle for budgetary allocations and positioning in the hierarchy of the Armed Forces. Creating a 4- Star General to command the US SOCOM will generate a demand to be represented in the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff and even the possibility that the Chief of the JCS will be a SOCOM Commander. 4. Under the above scheme, the role of US overseas bases will be centered as launching pads for COIN Operations and less on the mobilization of large conventional forces, unless such a conventional war ensues. 5. The important thing to remember: Whatever scheme that US Imperialism invents, a combination of “soft power” and military intervention will most certainly occur. 6. Capitalism carries with it the seeds of its own destruction. It cannot prosper and succeed without exploitation and oppression. Therefore, resistance and demands for change will occur. And US Imperialism will do everything in its power to maintain Pax Americana.

7. ~END~