Had the Philippines not pulled more troops from Iraq there would have been a strong possibility of increased terrorists’ attacks in the Philippines which would have been used as a pretext for pushing through a planned U.S. deployment in the Philippines per a "private agreement" with Filipino officials for a direct U.S. role in fighting terrorists.
The U.S. foray into the Philippines is just the first step in a wider operation envisioned against Islamic insurgencies in Southeast Asia.
On the campaign against terrorism, the Australia and the US agreed that South East Asia was a key front, affirming the importance of working with regional governments against a common threat. #msg-3542419
The United States, however, may be underestimating the risks of engaging in combat in the region for the first time since the Vietnam War. Already, the White House has stepped into a quagmire of unintended consequences.
The Pentagon's leak of a "private agreement" with Filipino officials for a direct U.S. role in fighting the terror group triggered a political crisis in the Philippines, because the country's constitution forbids foreign troops from operating on its soil. The provision is implicitly aimed at the United States, which had to close down its local military bases in 1992.
The agreement has led to loud calls in Manila for the ouster of "traitorous" defense officials. Opposition parties are accusing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Americanizing the fight against domestic unrest, specifically against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the strongest Muslim rebel force, which has 20,000 fighters and controls "liberated territories" on the big island of Mindanao.
Why the U.S. is Itching to Fight in the Philippines News Analysis, Rene P. Ciria-Cruz, Pacific News Service, Mar 05, 2003 A deadly bombing came in the wake of Washington's decision to shelve its plan to send special forces to the Philippines to directly engage the Abu Sayyaf. However, the desire to stake out a U.S. military presence remains, and the plan could be revived in the future.
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently ruled out the use of U.S. combat troops against the Abu Sayyaf terror gang, quieting speculations that the deadly March 3 bombing in the Davao City airport on the island of Mindanao could be used as a pretext for pushing through with the planned deployment.
However, the plan could spring to life again. With pre-emption driving the foreign policy of President George W. Bush, there is one reason Washington is eager to fight the ragtag band of kidnappers: location.
The United States wants to put troops in the Philippines to fight terrorists on Philippine soil. Realizing that in order to fight a ‘terrorist’ you need a ‘terrorist’ the United States has renewed the terrorist tag against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its military wing the New People's Army (NPA).
The United States had done this knowing well that it may hurt the Philippines' chances for peace and in doing so has sided with the Philippine military or “traitorous’ defense officials against the Philippine government.
"We are assessing the impact of the renewal of terror tag on our peace negotiations with the rebels," Philippine officials said.
The rebels have been urging the Philippine government to make representations before foreign governments to delist them as terrorists.
The U.S. could have waited but instead put their desire to occupy the Philippines ahead of the peace process even though there is a good chance many Philippines might die because of the renewal if the peace negotiations fail.
The United States has not only negotiated with terrorists in the past they have allied with them.
The Pentagon's leak of a "private agreement" with Filipino officials for a direct U.S. role in fighting the terror group triggered a political crisis in the Philippines, because the country's constitution forbids foreign troops from operating on its soil. The provision is implicitly aimed at the United States, which had to close down its local military bases in 1992.
The agreement has led to loud calls in Manila for the ouster of "traitorous" defense officials. Opposition parties are accusing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Americanizing the fight against domestic unrest, specifically against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the strongest Muslim rebel force, which has 20,000 fighters and controls "liberated territories" on the big island of Mindanao. #msg-3579096
Look for the United States to be fighting in the Philippines in the near future.
-Am
Philippines assesses US renewal of terror tag vs Philippine rebel
www.chinaview.cn 2004-08-10 22:36:55
MANILA, Aug. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- The Philippine government is studying the implications of the US State Department's renewal of terrorist tag against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)and its military wing the New People's Army (NPA).
This was one of the topics discussed in Tuesday's Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security at the presidential palace, a government source said.
"We are assessing the impact of the renewal of terror tag on our peace negotiations with the rebels," officials said.
On Monday in Washington, US Secretary of State Colin Powell issued a public notice, renewing its classification of the CPP-NPAas a foreign terrorist organization, based on a review of records and in consultation with the attorney general and the secretary ofthe treasury.
"We don't know yet if this would derail our talks with the rebels," the source added.
The renewal of terror tag came at a time when the Philippine government is set to resume talks with the NPA's political organization the National Democratic Front (NDF) on Aug. 24 in Oslo, Norway.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert said Manila has nothing to do with the redesignation of the CPP-NPA as terrorists.
"It's up to the countries to give the tag," Albert told reporters.
Meanwhile, the Philippine military Tuesday hailed the recent USrenewal of the terror tag against the rebel, saying it reflects the true sentiments of the Filipino against the rebel which the military think is involved, has long been involved in terrorist activities.
The European Commission in Manila, for its part, said the terror listing of the CPP-NPA by the European Union (EU) is in place. There is no need for the EU to renew the terror tag, delegation Head Johannes de Kok said.
De Kok said he is looking forward to a successful peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the NDF.
"As soon as they cease to continue their terrorist activities, the terrorist tag being removed will be greater," De Kok said.
The rebels have been urging the Philippine government to make representations before foreign governments to delist them as terrorists.
However, the US would not budge since it has a standing policy of not negotiating with terrorists.
The 9,000-strong NPA, which has been waging an insurgency for 35 years in remote areas in the Philippines, was designated foreign terror group by Washington and the EU after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the Untied States. Enditem
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