America’s Involvement in the Edsa Revolution Essay Example

was. Moreover, the public knowledge of Marcos incurable and fatal disease indicated his near death. The U. S.

government could not risk having a successor, who is at least not hostile to America.They needed to take action with George Shultz, Secretary of the State, as the man for the job. His strategy, as he recalls it: By early February 1985, I made the problems of the Philippines and their impact on our bases at Clark and Subic the main topic for a Family Group meeting with Cap Weinberger, Bill Casey and Bud McFarlene… Bill Crowe, still commander in the Pacific, but soon to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined us… Critical decisions would have to emerge from a Philippine process. But the United States could help.I proposed that we promote the revitalization of institutions by working with diverse Filipino leaders, businessmen and professionals who could push for an open election process and a free market economy; those in the Catholic hierarchy who were concerned about elements in the church that sided with the Communist insurgency; military professionals who wanted to stop Marcos’s politicization of their institutions; and responsible members of the opposition who wanted to work constructively for democratic reforms.

Shultz strategy involves pressuring the Marcos administration in order to give in to the restoration of democracy.During the infinite absence of AFP chief in staff General Fabian Ver on February 22, 1985, Shultz had Ambassador Stephen Bosworth pressure Marcos to block Ver’s return. Around three months later, CIA chief William “Bill” Casey successfully persuaded Marcos to hold a snap election, which Marcos confirmed on November 3, 1985. In addition to the pressure,

on July 1985, The Village Voice, a New York weekly, fed the Marcos opposition with a scandal involving Joseph and Ralph Bernstein’s claim on laundering millions of Marcos dollars.Although the publication of the scandal was seized by Congressman Stephen Solarz, it was not forgotten. It even became the legal basis for the impeachment of Marcos.

Due to the effect of the scandal to Marcos credibility, America immediately seized the opportunity to prevent Marcos from rebuilding his reputation. On August 1985, U. S. government leaked information regarding the overshadowing of a Philippine Air Force fighter aircraft on China Airlines plane in August 1983. It was the flight that led to Ninoy Aquinos fatal homecoming.

Worse, the Americans encourage RAM in overthrowing the Marcos regime. In September 1985, RAM’s planned was finalized. They agreed to convince conservative Congress members by lying about the declining power of Marcos and the growing strength of the NPA, which is a threat to their bases and business interests. Finally, Marcos reacted to weight of America’s pressure: By early September 1985, Marcos was saying pointedly that Bosworth did not represent the views of President Reagan. A presidential envoy was needed.

Senator Pail Laxalt was the man for the job… I knew his mission would be dicey.Marcos was already making quiet threats about the tenure of our military bases and had hinted to the Soviets that they might gain access to Philippine naval facilities. His reaction validated the America’s concern over the military bases and at the same time alarmed U. S.

of the prospect of having the Soviet Union overrunning their bases. The U. S. were aware of the heighten risk, urging their

need to overthrow Marcos’s regime. During a remote telecast on ABC’s “This Week with David Brinkley”, he announced the snap election that will be tentatively held on January 17, 1986.

But the election was delayed to February 7, 1986.Prior to the election, America met with the leader of the opposition to coach them, as well as, discuss the terms of American support. However, everything did not go as America has originally planned. With the reinstallation of Ver to his previous position as AFP chief of staff, America, particularly Congressman Stephen Solarz, the Committee and his allies, that demanded the Reagan administration to freeze $100 million of economic aid to the Philippines.

In addition, Marcos’s win in the snap election, despite the efforts of the NAMFREL (National Movement for Free Election) to ensure a “free, fair and credible election.Shultz and his party strongly argued the fraud committed by Marcos on the election, despite the lack of evidence to support his argument. With this, he was unable to gain the support of the president, so he had to improvise his plan. Shultz staged the fall of Marcos to be done by the Filipinos.

The next train of events were moving along their favor. Shultz tipped Ver about the coup d’ etat, planned on February 7, 1986, in order to catalyze the events that will rage the Filipinos. Finally, their plan was falling into place with Marcos dignified resignation.The only thing left for U.

S. to do is to welcome Marcos to the United States. This is important to Shultz because it will enable them to keep an close eye on Marcos. The 1986 EDSA Revolution is not

a Filipino driven event.

It cannot be denied that the Americans played a major role in staging the successful peaceful event, which we blindly followed. With this in mind, EDSA Revolution was not just the Filipinos revolt against Marcos, but also the U. S. government’s revolt as well. However, it is remembered as solely Filipino.