3 US ships in Vietnam to train with former foe

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_VIETNAM_US_NAVY_EXERCISE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-07-15-06-25-04

DANANG, Vietnam (AP) -- Three U.S. Navy ships were welcomed Friday by former foe Vietnam for joint training, despite China's irritation following weeks of fiery exchanges between the communist neighbors over disputed areas of the South China Sea.

U.S. and Vietnamese officials have stressed that the seven-day ship visit and naval training are part of routine exchanges planned long before tensions began flaring between China and Vietnam in late May. China has criticized the port call as inappropriate, saying it should have been rescheduled due to the ongoing squabble.

The U.S. visit, however, did send a message that the Navy remains a formidable maritime force in the region and is determined to build stronger military ties with smaller Southeast Asian countries.

"We've had a presence in the Western Pacific and the South China Sea for 50 to 60 years, even going back before World War II," Rear Adm. Tom Carney, who's leading the naval exchange, told reporters. "We will maintain a presence in the Western Pacific and the South China Sea as we have for decades, and we have no intention of departing from that kind of activity."

That the destruction of the US social fabric was "worth it."

Sure, we are allies now with Germany and Japan, but we STOPPED their plans. VietNam is now Communist, a situation we should have let occur naturally and without interference.

Without the hubris we are now displaying once again in Asia.