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World
Haiyan Relief Gives U.S. Image a Boost Typhoon victims hail American aid efforts in devastated areas
Meanwhile ... Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said Sunday that he will stay in typhoon-battered Leyte province until he sees more progress in the aid effort following complaints from survivors that they have yet to receive proper help. Aquino is expected to set up camp in Tacloban, the capital of Leyte province, but it is not clear where he will find suitable accommodations. Virtually every building in the city was damaged or destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan on Nov. 8. Electricity is available only in small pockets through diesel generators. There is no running water, and people must manage with water supplied by tankers. (AP)
Villagers have welcomed aid from the U.S. military in Typhoon Haiyan’s aftermath.
like Haiyan strike, staging massive humanitarian relief missions for allies in need isn’t just about being a good neighbor. They can be a strategic and publicity goldmine for U.S. troops whose presence in Asia isn’t always portrayed
in such a favorable light — and a powerful warning to countries that aren’t on board. “These disasters are not unique only to the Philippines. It will send a signal to all of Southeast Asia, to Asia, that the U.S. is serious about
In the week since the disaster, the Philippines has started to receive support from military forces around the region. But none has come close to matching the U.S. Equally important, America’s regional rival China has not sent any military personnel, and contributed relatively tiny financial aid. “This is being done in a big way that highlights the meager response of China — that’s the politics there. They’re saying China is not actually your friend in the region,” Casiple said. ERIC TALMADGE (AP)
its presence here,” said Philippine political analyst Ramon Casiple. “It’s easy to translate this capability for disaster handling into handling warfare. This is the new orientation of the task forces.” For U.S. allies like the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand and to some extent Indonesia, it is an affirmation of U.S. commitment. For others who are more closely aligned with China, Casiple said the mission is a not-so-subtle message that the U.S remains the biggest power in the region.
In Brief ISLAMABAD
Pakistan Ex-President To Be Tried for Treason Pakistan’s government plans to put its former president, Pervez Musharraf, on trial for treason for declaring a state of emergency and suspending the constitution while in power, the interior minister said Sunday. Musharraf could face the death penalty or life in prison if he is convicted of treason, but some question whether the country’s powerful army actually will let that happen. (AP) TEHRAN, IRAN
Iran: No Need for West to Declare Enrichment Right Iran sees no need for world powers to publicly acknowledge its “right” to uranium enrichment, its foreign minister said Sunday, offering a potential way to sidestep a sticking point on a possible nuclear deal when talks resume this week. (AP)
B.K. BANGASH (AP)
As soon as Navy pilot Matthew Stafford puts his helicopter down in the Philippines village of Borongan, he is rushed by dozens of local men who form a line to unload the supplies and water he has flown in from the mother ship, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier. Children swarm him as he breaks out a box of sweets. On the Philippine islands of Leyte and Samar that were shattered by Typhoon Haiyan, there is no doubt about it: the U.S. military has been a godsend. “It is awesome to see this,” says one grateful villager. “They are saving us.” But while U.S. military support can be critical when disasters
VINCENT YU (AP)
Aboard the USS George Washington
Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s former president, is set to face treason charges. BEIRUT
Fighting in Western Syria Forces Residents to Flee Thousands of Syrians poured into Lebanon over the past two days, taking shelter in wedding halls and makeshift shacks after fleeing heavy fighting in Qalamoun, a rugged mountain region across the border in western Syria, U.N. and local officials said Sunday. (AP)