You need an Australian history lesson, as well as a US empire lesson. The US has had major influence over the Philipines since they were our colony. I’m old enough to have watched how we loved Marcos before we hated Marcos, just like Manuel Noriega and Saddam Hussien, to name two other dictators. We were all right with Duterte until he started thinking for himself BEFORE thinking what the US wants. If he doesn’t want to follow in Noriega’s and Hussien’s footsteps he should get a lesson in US empire as well.
How convient to your argument that you have secret knowledge of exactly why the Top Gun was written and filmed that supports your argument.
Not mentioning soveriegnty verbally doesn’t mean soveriegnty wasn’t mentioned. This is apparently the entire point you are unable to grasp. When a Mafia protection ring says, “That’s a real nice business you have there. It’d be a shame if something happened to it” they are also not saying they will burn your business to the ground if you don’t pay for protection. But they are saying EXACTLY that.
That is also how we convince countries to be our allies. Either you are under our protection, like Australia, or you’re not, like the former Yugoslavia. Emphasis on “former.” When Australia, in 1975, decided they didn’t need our protection anymore, the US and UK got rid of that uppity Australian prime minister very quickly.
Here endeth the lesson. I’m done. Bye now.
