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Philippines & Indonesia

Indonesian prisons becoming breeding places for preaching jihad
Subhan Choudhury - 7/15/2011
Indonesian security is attempting to irradiate Islamic terrorism from the society has encountered an unorthodox problem – the already detained militants are preaching jihadi ideals to other inmates. Officials of the Citilink airline security have reported concern about the presence of radicals in the country. This situation is severely weakening the efforts that the government and security forces are giving to rout out terrorism elements from the country.

Who's Responsible for Our Lives?
John Mangun - 7/6/2008
Our individual and collective hearts and prayers go to the victims and their families of the on-going maritime disaster. No words of condolence can do much to relieve the grief. Financial assistance and donations in kind can lessen the suffering and we all have an obligation to do what we can to help.

Philippines Rice Prices: Poor Against the Poor
John Mangun - 4/18/2008
In the United States, the greatest social divide began in the 1930’s during severe economic times. That divide was not based on education, race, or even economic status. The Great Depression took root with a meltdown of the financial system but was fueled and exacerbated by the Dust Bowl drought that hit the heart of America’s farmland between 1930 and 1936.

Why Does The Philippines Trust America?
John Mangun - 7/4/2007
The recent The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and WorldPublicOpinion.org on national attitudes towards the United States again places the Philippines apart from conventional thinking. Our local Social Weather Stations conducted the survey on behalf of the aforementioned groups in the Philippines. The most basic question asked in the survey was whether the United States could be trusted to act responsibly in the world, “a great deal,” “somewhat,” “not very much” or “not at all.”

Southeast Asia Casts Wide Net for Cooperation
Barry Desker - 5/31/2006
The absence of the US, the 800-pound gorilla, as East Asia moves towards the establishment of an East Asian Community, highlights the region’s changing dynamics and emerging debate over the future security architecture. Instead of trying to forge an alliance against China, as some in the US urge, American interests would have been better served by participation in the East Asian Summit that enmeshes China in the regional security network.

Philippines: Politics or Economics - Which is Stronger
John Mangun - 1/23/2006
Every time a politician talks about economics, I think there is reason to tremble. Of course, every time an economist talks about politics, you should have the same reaction. There seems to be a constant and continuing commentary how politics is the driving force behind economics and the economy. I will grant that government policies can help or hinder economic growth, but what I am talking about here is something a little more basic. Is the driving force in a society what happens in the political arena or what happens in the economy of a country?

Third World Corruption: Indonesia First and Philippines Second
John Mangun - 4/15/2005
Sometime between Chinese New Year and Easter comes an annual event eagerly awaited by Asian governments and pundits alike, an 'award' given by the Political and Economics Risk Consultancy group out of Hong Kong. And like the movie industry's "Oscar Awards", the newspapers headline the results on the following day. This year the Philippines came in a close second to Indonesia's winning score in the "Corruption Index".

The Philippines is Coming Back
John Mangun - 2/27/2005
As expected and predicted, Moody's report card of the Arroyo, administration showed less than a passing performance rating. Smokers and drinkers are paying more for their favorite "sin" and it did nothing to offset the dismally poor fiscal 'accomplishments' of the government. In fact, the 'sin' seems to be the way the administration handles the people's money and the government's finances. Oh well, like a lover subject to the flight of Cupid's arrows, we must live with the results of the downgrade, for better or worse.

Solution to Economic Problems of Philippines
John Mangun - 1/29/2005
To even the most astute observer whose sympathies might lie with the current administration, it would seem from the results of the last national election that the government of the Philippines was populated with thieves, intellectual dwarfs, and other assorted clowns with high name recognition. However, an occasional jewel of competency and perception can be found in government even if the press and media is so unaware of the fact.