Looted: The Philippines After the Bases

This is a must read for anyone who would like a deeper understanding of the Philippines. In my 8 years in Manila, I had the opportunity to travel extensively and frequently throughout the island nation. While I appreciate the wonders and potentials of the country I have seen its darker perimeters in many forms. Don Kirk has done a masterful job of research and reporting. There are of course two sides to everything and, when it involves Asia, it is difficult for the casual or transient observer to see beyond what they believe they understand. Author/Correspondent Don Kirk is clearly not a casual transient observer.

As an American who has lived in the Philippines for 20 years, I enjoyed the author's, Mr Kirk's, rendition of the background to and events attending the US military's turnover of the bases to the Philippine government. The looting that took place around Clark AFB was blatant and horrendous and the author did justice to the facts. One of the sources that Mr Kirk used was a friend of mine, Frank Hilliard. Mr Kirk borrowed the "History of Camp John Hay" (by Laubenthal) from Hilliard and did not return this book, which is long out of print and impossible to replace. Mr Hilliard therefore requests that the Mr Kirk return the book forthwith, c/o the Hotel where he met and interviewed Mr Hilliard.