Terri
02-20-2003, 09:59 PM
U.S. to fight terrorists in Philippines
By Pamela Hess
UPI Pentagon Correspondent
February 20, 2003
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Roughly 750 U.S. military personnel will deploy shortly to the Philippines to open a new front against the Abu Sayaff terrorist group on Jolo Island, assisting the Philippines Armed Forces in an unprecedented joint counter-terrorism operation, according to defense officials.
The deployment is open-ended, a defense official said.
The group will include 350 special operations forces personnel who will engage in direct combat with Abu Sayaff for the first time. Last year, around 600 U.S. personnel deployed to the Philippines but served in an advisory capacity only.
This deployment will pit U.S. forces directly against fighters from Abu Sayaff, which the U.S. intelligence community says has ties to al Qaida.
"We have never done this before in this context," the defense official told United Press International.
That effort, known as Balikatan '02, was part of a $25 million counter-terrorism aid package for the Philippines. It resulted in the capture or death of dozens of Abu Sayaff members and repulsed "hundreds" south from Basilan Island to Jolo, according to the defense official. Basilan Island is now under the control of the Philippine government.
Full Story (http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=200 30220-062350-1322r)
This probably won't get much attention considering what is going on with Iraq.
Do you think this is a large enough committment to this area?
By Pamela Hess
UPI Pentagon Correspondent
February 20, 2003
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Roughly 750 U.S. military personnel will deploy shortly to the Philippines to open a new front against the Abu Sayaff terrorist group on Jolo Island, assisting the Philippines Armed Forces in an unprecedented joint counter-terrorism operation, according to defense officials.
The deployment is open-ended, a defense official said.
The group will include 350 special operations forces personnel who will engage in direct combat with Abu Sayaff for the first time. Last year, around 600 U.S. personnel deployed to the Philippines but served in an advisory capacity only.
This deployment will pit U.S. forces directly against fighters from Abu Sayaff, which the U.S. intelligence community says has ties to al Qaida.
"We have never done this before in this context," the defense official told United Press International.
That effort, known as Balikatan '02, was part of a $25 million counter-terrorism aid package for the Philippines. It resulted in the capture or death of dozens of Abu Sayaff members and repulsed "hundreds" south from Basilan Island to Jolo, according to the defense official. Basilan Island is now under the control of the Philippine government.
Full Story (http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=200 30220-062350-1322r)
This probably won't get much attention considering what is going on with Iraq.
Do you think this is a large enough committment to this area?