Looted: The Philippines After the Bases

by Donald Kirk

Book Overview

In Looted, veteran correspondent Donald Kirk cuts through the mystique of democracy that has shrouded the Philippines since the American withdrawal from its military bases there in 1991 and 1992, and he reveals the corruption that exists beneath the surface. Making use of his extensive first-hand knowledge of the region, Kirk recounts the drama of one of history's greatest volcanic eruptions as just the beginning of a period of looting and exploitation...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312227698
• ISBN13: 9780312227692
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

A Must Read

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.

Good review of the Philippines and its epidemic corruption.

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.