Obama Disses the Philippines

(Manila, Philippines) It's arguably unwise to disrespect a geographically-strategic ally. Check out the views of Obama being expressed in Manila.

In the first blush of victory, US President-elect Barack Obama accepted congratulations from nine presidents and prime ministers and returned their calls. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, one of the numerous early callers, was not one of the chosen few.

The favored world leaders were Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Besides chatting with those nine world leaders, Obama also received and acknowledged congratulations from President Ahmadinejad of Iran.

Meanwhile, more than once, Philippines President Arroyo called to congratulate Obama and was told by Obama's team that her call was one of the first and he would call back. Inexplicably, no call was returned and the snub hasn't gone unnoticed.

The sidelining of the Arroyo call gave a glimpse of the importance of the Philippines to the United States at a moment of change of administration.

It is clear that the Philippines stands on the outer perimeter of US concerns in world affairs.

The first telephone conversations reveal the Philippines is not within the charmed circles of the Obama administration. It is a leper outside looking in.

It is imperative that Manila should rearrange its priorities vis-à-vis Washington. Obama is not our friend.

Maybe it was all just an administrative glitch.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.