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| Southeast Asia | |
| Thailand designated non-NATO ally | |
| 2003-12-31 | |
US President George W. Bush officially designated war-on-terrorism partner Thailand a major US non-NATO ally, a move that will boost security cooperation between the two countries.
Thailand is joining an exclusive club of countries that enjoy a privileged security relationship with the United States. Its members, which include Japan, Australia, Israel, Egypt, South Korea, Argentina, New Zealand and the Philippines, are granted significant benefits in the area of foreign aid and defense cooperation. Major non-NATO allies are eligible for priority delivery of defense material and the purchase, for instance, of depleted uranium anti-tank rounds. They can stockpile US military hardware, participate in defense research and development programs, and benefit from a US government loan guarantee program, which backs up loans issued by private banks to finance arms exports. However, the designation does not afford them the same mutual defense guarantees enjoyed by members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Thailand has steadily strengthened its ties to Washington since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and this year after prolonged domestic debate committed to sending troops to Iraq. The US president had announced his intention to make the designation during a state visit to Thailand in mid-October. During a speech to members of the Thai military, Bush said he was "confident in the strength of our alliance and I have acted to designate Thailand a major non-NATO ally of the United States." | |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #10 Kathy - I walked in just in time to see a katoey fight 3 girls in a Nana Plaza bar (Hollywood Bar - the Mamasan was a friend of mine) one night - it was a pretty bloody affair, too. Usually, no Thai actually points out who is katoey and who isn't (even if you are crass enough to ask, Thai social imperative is non-confrontation / non-criticism), but for some reason there was a flareup and two of the girl's friends came to her defense - probably because of the size difference. Anyway, the weapon du jour was stiletto high heels. Hard to say who won - everybody was bloody, clothes torn, hair askew, etc. Funny thing was how the big grown men scattered out of harm's way! I guess if you don't have a dog in the fight, well... |
| Posted by: .com 2003-12-31 8:17:37 PM |
| #9 When buying or renting a car, always check under the hood! |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-12-31 3:33:43 PM |
| #8 Too true, Ed. You guys can have the girls, I'll take the food! Though I wouldn't mind a couple of khatoeys for bodyguards. Those 'girls' are tough. |
| Posted by: Kathy K 2003-12-31 3:12:11 PM |
| #7 #5 Forget the food, send us more Thai women! The trouble with that, Steve, is that half the time, you can't tell the Thai women from the Thai boys. You might get a shipment, and receive a rather rude shock. ^_^ Ed Becerra |
| Posted by: Ed Becerra 2003-12-31 2:25:40 PM |
| #6 Why can't we have both? |
| Posted by: Sgt.DT 2003-12-31 12:01:45 PM |
| #5 Forget the food, send us more Thai women! |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-12-31 10:53:49 AM |
| #4 We'll give you weapons and ammo, you give us Kaeng Dang Curry and Spring Rolls. Sounds like a fair deal to me. I love Thai food! Yum. |
| Posted by: Swiggles 2003-12-31 9:10:29 AM |
| #3 I hope they send food aid to the U.S. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-12-31 7:59:35 AM |
| #2 Don't forget the free monthly newsletter, and a personalized doormat. |
| Posted by: Rick 2003-12-31 6:06:37 AM |
| #1 Have a carrot... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-12-31 2:09:24 AM |