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NYT. 16 January 2002. U.S. and Philippines Setting Up Joint Command to Combat Terror. Excerpts. WASHINGTON -- In the first major expansion of the war on terrorism, American and Philippine military officials agreed today in Manila to form a joint command to stamp out a Muslim extremist group linked to Al Qaeda in the southern Philippines. More than 600 American troops, including 160 Special Operations forces trained in counterterrorism, are expected to be sent this month to train and advise 1,200 Philippine Army soldiers in how to destroy Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group that is holding hostages, including two Americans. Sending the United States troops to the southern island of Mindanao, which is near Basilan Island, Abu Sayyaf's base, would mark the largest single deployment of American military might outside Afghanistan to fight terrorists since the Sept. 11 attacks. And it is a further sign that the Philippines may well become the site of the war's next phase. Though the American forces are expected to be involved initially in assisting and training Philippine troops, they will also accompany them on patrol in rebel areas, will be armed and will be authorized to fire in self-defense. They could become involved in offensive military action if the Manila government requested it, officials said, though that would require a change in the Philippine Constitution. "It is not a modest number," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said today, describing the size of the American contingent to a group of radio reporters. Mr. Rumsfeld said military support troops, including logistics and medical specialists, would take part in an effort that formally begins next month. A senior military official said the number of American forces could increase, depending on how the campaign progresses. Pentagon officials have been loath to describe details of the highly classified mission, but there have been clear hints in recent days that the United States and its longtime ally, the Philippines, are joining in a major effort to wipe out what they consider to be a dangerous terrorist cell in Southeast Asia. The Abu Sayyaf group has as many as 2,000 members, some of whom have trained in Afghanistan, and is fighting to establish an Islamic state in the southern Philippines. The operation, which Filipino officials are careful to call an "exercise" to avoid inflaming domestic sensitivities to a large American military presence, is expected to last through June, or possibly the end of the year, officials said. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
