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Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Seares: The Americans won't be safe?
By Pachico A. Seares
News Sense
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña cannot keep the Americans out of the Asean summit.
When Cebu leaders lobbied for the December forum, they knew they had no say as to who could attend.
Coming from a host, even wishing aloud for the US to stay away is rude. Besides, it involves business of the Asean leadership, not just the hosts.
Mayor Tomas wants to make the summit safe. Fine.
Obsession is something else, which showed—from his idea to declare martial law in Cebu, to making Metro Cebu a ghost town, to driving residents to paranoia.
Co-organizers may see them as well-intentioned but weird.
In harm’s way
Security is not something leaders and organizers overlook. Gloria and company haven’t been efficient on many things but they must hate to mess up Asean delegates’ safety.
Besides, US is not one to leave security of its head of state to the hosts.
President Bush has gone to places that offer more danger than Cebu’s coddled assassins. If Bush lands anywhere abroad, the secret service is sure he is not in harm’s way and a war-ready fleet is standing by.
The mayor’s plans are not the kind to trumpet, especially that they are solely his, not the idea of the organizers or the President.
Not patriotic to talk publicly about what can foul up security. And as Asean national organizers chief Marciano Paynor said, “If one has nothing patriotic to say, shut up.”
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 6, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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