Next month, Guam is playing host
to a very unique conference. The
focus-security in the Western Pacific.
The Guam US Asia Security Alliance, a Guam-based 501 (c)(4) concerned
with the security of all who live in the Western Pacific and along the Pacific
Rim, is bringing together top experts to discuss policy related to U.S. forward
deployed forces and Asian security.
While there will be no papers
formally presented, this expects to be an open and frank discussion on a number
of important issues to Americans in this part of the world to include operational
realities, basing options and the role of Micronesia among other discussions
points.
The list of experts participating
in this roundtable talk from September 5-6, 2013 is a literal who's who in American policy expertise
in Asia. Notably, former CIA Senior
Official Carl W. Ford Jr., Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Center for New American
Security and long time friend of Guam and former U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General
Wallace "Chip" Gregson will be sharing their knowledge in the
discussion. Local media describes the
event simply as, "... a rare event for a private business sector
organization, unrelated to military, government, NGOs, or think tanks, to host
such an event, offering a unique opportunity for analysts and academics to
candidly address and exchange ideas with their peers."
We can expect other security
experts from around the region to come to Guam to check out this event. The interest is growing and many I spoke with
on the GUASA event are excited about what this round table talk will lead to in the
months and years to come.
It is about time that Guam is
hosting such an event. Five years ago,
this effort was proffered to the incoming Obama Administration as a way to
glean further understanding of the unique role Guam and Micronesia plays in the
defense of the United States. The losing
Republican candidate for President, Senator John McCain, advocated during that
campaign season for such a meeting to bring further attention to the role the
U.S. Territory plays in keeping the geopolitical balance across the Pacific Rim
intact.
There is no question that the
timing of this event is key. Guam
attained Visa Waiver Status for Russia and China is around the corner. The Sequester has certainly set a new normal
for federal expenditure in Guam. The
people are losing belief that the Guam Buildup, now known as the Guam Military
Realignment, will ever happen.
GUASA is taking a leadership role
with the effort to bring the U.S. Marines Corps to Guam in line with the
agreements set out by the United States and Japan that started back in 1994. This is a private sector driven
initiative. Note that the members of the
non-profit, non-partisan group has been at this for nearly 20 years. There is no question that they want to see
the move-an act that will certainly flip what is currently an economy of 40
percent federal spend and 60 percent tourism to 60 percent military utilization
and 40 percent visitor services. Our
Gross Island Product and investment will certainly eclipse numbers we have never
seen before.
The GUASA Round Table Discussion
is a necessary step forward to protect and ensure a successful move of U.S.
Marines in our region-let's get behind this.