We made a huge splash and highlighted the Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the MV-22.
The Brits, Australians, Japanese and Chinese quietly got to work and continue on task.
We pulled out.
Now tell me. Who's playing chess in the Pacific and who is just playing for the cameras. The Brits don't even want bases in the Philippines but they're stacking up huge points with the local populace. Whats worse is that we had the Chinese back peddling...they were embarrassed by the lack of aid they sent and we could have easily exploited the opening that gave us. Instead we let them back in the game and now they're coming out of this better than we are. We need new leadership if this Pacific tilt is serious.