New US Ambassador nominated

Our source in Washington informed us that the new nominee for the position of US Ambassador to the Philippines is the State Department’s Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research – Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg. The US Embassy In Manila refused to comment but the US Senate is expected to start his confirmation hearings sometime before the end of August.

Young, single and of Jewish descent, Goldberg – a native of Boston, Massachusetts – is a career member of the US Senior Foreign Service and has served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Santiago, Chile and Chief of Mission in Kosovo before becoming US Ambassador to Bolivia in 2006. In September 2008, Bolivian president Evo Morales – whose tenure was wracked by growing unrest in the country’s eastern provinces – accused Goldberg of supporting his political opponents, and had the US Ambassador expelled.

The State Department strongly defended Goldberg, saying he acted appropriately and professionally. The expulsion soured relations between Bolivia and the US, which retaliated by dismissing Bolivian Ambassador Gustavo Guzman, followed by President George Bush’s suspension of Bolivia’s trade privileges saying the country was uncooperative in the fight against drug trafficking.

Goldberg was nominated to his current position by then-State Secretary Hillary Clinton and former National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair in 2010, with very strong endorsement from Senior US Senator Dianne Feinstein of California. In the intelligence community, the Bureau of Intelligence Research – known as INR – produces “all-source intelligence analysis” for the State Secretary and senior policy officials. The INR is a highly respected “voice” that has been known to express dissent from official US intelligence community “conclusions” on certain issues.

As INR head, Ambassador Goldberg works closely with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to ensure counterintelligence policies and procedures that prevent hostile elements from collecting information – in other words spying – against diplomatic and INR personnel. Naturally, his experience in Chile and Bolivia gave him valuable insight on counterterrorism and narco-trafficking problems.

Ambassador Goldberg’s posting to the Philippines comes at a time when the country is poised to shift to second gear in our efforts to help contain the growing aggressiveness of China, signaled by the series of bilateral military exercises with the Philippines looking at giving the US and Japan more access to military bases, with some sectors encouraging the reopening of the former US military bases in Subic and Clark.

There are those however who continue to criticize our dependence on the United States. But let’s face it: We all need to be pragmatic. We obviously need to work closely with a longtime ally like the United States whose “Asia pivot” is very much welcomed by Asian nations although they are not as vocal as we are. Even a highly developed country like Japan is getting very antsy over the belligerence being displayed by China, and has openly expressed its willingness to help the Philippines defend its maritime territories.

The US position regarding the territorial dispute between China and the Philippines is changing slowly as seen in the growing instability in the region – there are frequent visits from US Navy vessels – including the participation of a US guided-missile destroyer in the ongoing Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises at Panatag Shoal. Aside from the Philippines, the military forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste will also be taking part in CARAT exercises.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin was absolutely right when he said, “We need allies to fight the bullies.” Now more than ever, the familiar George Bush question is applicable: “Are you with us or against us?”

No one can dispute that Albert del Rosario is perhaps one of the best Foreign secretaries we’ve ever had, with his experience as Ambassador to Washington skillfully bringing US officials into a better understanding of our situation. A clear proof of this is the recent comment of top US official for East Asia Danny Russell, who pointedly said that “coercion and bullying have no place in the region” – a direct reference to China’s continued aggressive actions in the disputed territories.

The fact is, the strong presence of the US must and should be continued, because it is clear that the role of the United States has never been more important than it is today. A lot of people including myself are saddened by the impending departure of Ambassador Harry Thomas who has become everybody’s good friend. Personally he’s been a great golfing buddy and all of us at the Manila Overseas Press Club are grateful for all his support, which is why we will be hosting a testimonial dinner in his honor on July 9 with no less than Vice President Jejomar Binay as special guest of honor. The affair is also timed to celebrate Philippine-American Friendship Day.

Ambassador Thomas is an asset to his country and likewise I can rightfully say an asset to the Philippines. He is a well-liked diplomat even among his peers, and he has also tremendously endeared himself to many Filipinos. Harry Thomas will be proceeding to his new post as head of the Arizona diplomatic school before going to his next assignment abroad. We’re sure he will be back sooner than soon.

US ambassadors – starting from Paul McNutt during the time of President Manuel Roxas – have always played a major and pivotal role in our country. In the modern world, Ambassador Thomas has done a great job in keeping the Philippines in Washington’s radar screen. I have no doubt his successor will continue the good work.

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