Ex. U.S. Military/Naval Bases Conversion

yeah... maybe you're right but then again, aside from the slight slump the Philippines experience due to the pull-out of the us military forces.... in most parts, i believe it all worked out for the best. I mean, from an economical point of view, converting those bases into special economic zone has benefited well the country's industrial sector and tourism sector. After the Americans left, we had tech equipments and facilities in our hands which was truly a great blessing that was fully utilized from what i have researched. but politically speaking, its a whole other story that i do not want to elaborate... But the point is that, we can not live in the past and speak that awww it was better when the Americans were here. yeah...maybe it was but it was inevitable. they were going to leave the country otherwise but maybe not as abrupt as what happened in 1992. I think that the important lesson that the Philippines and the whole world could learn from the cases of Subic and Clark is that we cannot let an unfortunate event ruin our lives and believe me.. it was a chaotic situation for the Philippines during that time because aside from the Americans angrily leaving the country... Mt. Pinatubo erupted. And the fact that the Philippines was able to bounce back from that in a relatively impressive and strong fashion is truly commendable...

I was thinking more of their strategic value, if you have bases in Japan and the Philippines then you have China surrounded in case of conflict. But I do see what you are saying. Do you ever see a return of the American military? There are special forces there now of course but I am speaking of a large base.

As for bases being converted, Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in Orange County, California is going to be converted to a general park, museum district, sports park, homes , businesses, etc. Basically it will become a new community.

For more information: http://www.ocgp.org/

Interactive flash map of the proposed project: http://www.ocgp.org/flashpaper/cmp/OCGP_CMP_Map.swf


http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/

i think the whole pacific rim is studded with these kinds of bases so i don't really know if it is really important to have one in the philippines... i dont think that a u.s. military will build another base in the here in the future.. well at least not in the near future because although strategically speaking, the philippine bases were good but the politacal side of these bases would seem very unappealing... you see back in 1992.. the u.s. defense department viewed the money they were giving for occupying the base as compensation in the form of aids, loans and surplus of military equiptments to the philippine military, of course in addition to some cash value. But on the other hand, the philippine negotiation group view it as a rent, and for them the 'rent' that the philippines was recieve was too low and the aids that the u.s. was giving was not part of it. so then they continued on by asking for something that was really high that it was almost stupid. however inspite of this, in the end the two parties - u.s. and the philippines got to an aggreement. But then the senate sabbotaged this aggreement because they didnt get the amount they were originally asking for, which then forced the u.s. navy out of the philippines.
i think that what happened in 1992 served as a lesson to the u.s. defense department to not get into these sort of transactions with the philippines anymore because... not only did the philippine senate took what happened during the negotiation period personally but i believe that the money they were asking for was largely intended for corruption and kick-backs and etc... and i don't think the u.s. department of defense would like to be part of that... thinking that they have their own controversies to contend with

Here is the masterplan of what's gonna happen to the former Clark airbase

Gateway gardens in Frankfurt:
http://www.airportcity-frankfurt.com/cms/default/rubrik/12/12794.gateway_gardens.htm

Terminal 3 Frankfurt airport:
http://www.ausbau.fraport.com/cms/default/rubrik/15/15195.htm


Nice thesis topic between. kay:

Karlsruhe, Germany.

The former "Paul Revere Village" and "Smiley Barracks" have been converted into civil residential areas in the 90's.