timber wolf24h

At over 20 stories tall and 332 meters in length, the USS Theodore Roosevelt cut an intimidating outline against the Manila Bay sunset. From my seat at the bow of the civilian boat ferrying guests to the socials aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier, I could see an F/A-18 jets parked on the flight deck as well as a complement of helicopters and transport planes. Our boat approached the carrier from the aft where the ship's name was boldy emblazoned in dark blue on the haze gray paint. It was US President Theodore Roosevelt, a soldier famous for the charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba, who coined the "speak softly, and carry a big stick"-style of foreign policy, which is also known as gunboat diplomacy.