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| Sunday, 3 July 2005 |
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Features |  |
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Market dominates US concerns Critical issues by Lionel Yodhasinghe
It is no secret that the United States of America (the US) has taken so much interest in the Asia Pacific region for its trade and economic potential, and its interest has been moving towards South Asian region today for the same reason with the emerging market in South Asian countries especially in India. Some 35 per cent of US trade is done within the Asia Pacific region. In contrast, 19 per cent of US trade is with the European Union, 20 with Canada, and 18 with Latin America. Asia Pacific nations, excluding the US account for about 34 percent of the Gross world product. To exploit such markets the US has to maintain peace and stability in the region and it could be the reason for the United States to allocate billions of dollars on security measures in this region. And United States Pacific Command (USPAC) has been designated the job which directly reports through the Defence Secretary to the US President. Having gone through modern scanning and other high technological devices, Jefferson fellows were led to a meeting room of the Camp H.M. Smith. Located near Pearl Harbour of Hawaii, Camp Smith is today the Head Quarters of the United States Pacific Command. Jefferson fellows were guests of USPAC Commander Admiral William J Fallon to lunch on the day but some urgency had summoned Admiral Fallon in Thailand, military life is so, and Vice Admiral Gary Roughead deputised for him at the occasion with his top rankers. Major focus areas of USPC is to prosecute and win the global war on terrorism, mature the joint and combined war fighting capability and readiness, ensure operational plans are credible, advance regional security cooperation and posture forces for immediate and responsive tasks for the protection of people and their nations in the region, Public Diplomacy Advisor of USPA Susan E Stahl said. USPC works coordinates the employment of US forces in peace, crisis or war to advance US interests and is an active player, partner and beneficiary in pursuit of a secure prosperous and democratic Asia Pacific community. USPC in collaboration with other US Government agencies and regional military partners promotes security and peaceful development in the Asia Pacific region in this regard. Five of the seven worldwide US mutual defense treaties with Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, Korea, South East Asia Collective Defense ( US, France, Australia, News Zealand, Thailand and Philippines) and Japan have been in force for protection in this region. Nearly 60 per cent of the world papulation in 43 countries concentrated in these area and six world's largest armed forces in China, US, Russia, India, North Korea and South Korea are included in these areas. When such a huge military power base with all modern equipment to combat any adverse forces in the region is ready for action, why does Sri Lanka allow the LTTE to possess an airstrip and light aircraft posing a major threat to the national and regional security?. As combating terrorism in the region is on the agenda of the USPC, Lt. Colonel US Airforce Jay C. Steuck said that USPC is concerned about movements of terrorist groups in the region and it is also concerned about the LTTE having an airstrip and light aircraft. But USPC is not in a position to look into such matters unless the Sri Lankan Government seeks any assistance. When asked what action they could take, Col. Steuck said USPC was ready to assist whenever Sri Lankan Government sought. He said that they did joint operations with local forces but USPC does not engage in operations in foreign soil without the permission of respective Governments. Earlier, Admiral Fellon had visited Sri Lanka to observed the tsunami devastated areas in the South and in the North East. USPC had sent over 1500 Marine Corps to clear debris of tsunami hit areas after the December 26 killer waves in Sri Lanka. One Unified Command is so vast that one unit includes about 300,000 military forces, Army, Navy, Airforce and Marine Corps. There are several such Commands with sub-ordinate forces stationed in different geographical areas including Japan, Korea and Alaska. The Pacific fleet HQ at Pearl Harbour is the world's largest Naval Command forces including nearly 190 ships, 1400 Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, more than 213,000 sailors, marines, civilians and 35 shore installations to support Unified Commands such as US Central Command and US Strategic Command. Constant surveillance is being done to combat other social evils such as peddling of narcotics, smuggling etc. The area of responsibility that come under USPC is more than 50 per cent of the earth's surface and nearly 105 million square miles starting from the west coast of the United Sates mainland to the east coast of Africa belongs to USPC. Next: Crawford Bush's ranch |
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