The real story behind US policy on Thailand
Play
The US government's policy towards Thailand over the past decade seems to have been guided mainly by business considerations. Allow me to explain.
In 1998, then-president George HW Bush paid a visit to Thailand as a personal guest of Thaksin Shinawatra, who was at that time hoping to become prime minister.
A few months later Thaksin was appointed to the advisory board of the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm. Bush was head of the board. The Carlyle Group later became a key player in guiding the direction of US foreign policy.
During his presidency Bush extolled a “new world order”, a kind of global government headed by Washington that was intended to pave the way for US commercial expansion across the world.
After his presidency, Bush teamed up with former government officials such as James Baker III, who had been his secretary of state, and Frank Carlucci, Ronald Reagan’s defence secretary. The team came to dominate the US Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), now one of the most influential voices in White House decision-making.
It is worth noting that the coup of September 19, 2006, occurred just hours after Thaksin appeared at a meeting arranged by the CFR in New York. It was rumoured that the speech Thaksin was scheduled to deliver at the UN General Assembly the next morning would divide Thailand rather than keep it united.
The truth is that Thailand will only be able to return to democracy if the US government stops backing Thaksin’s attempt to regain power here.
Vint Chavala
