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Philippines bracing for reduced or delayed US aid after Iraq row
Tue Aug 10, 1:07 AM ETMANILA (AFP) - Philippine officials expect a reduction or suspension of development aid from the United States after Manila's early military pullout from Iraq last month, a senior Filipino diplomat has said. The foreign department warned President Gloria Arroyo to expect a backlash after she decided to bring home the small contingent to save kidnapped truck driver Angelo de la Cruz, said the official, who asked not to be named. Washington had criticized the decision as akin to caving in to terrorists. The foreign department is convinced that Washington would reduce or suspend development aid to Manila, the diplomat told reporters. A veritable BGO (Blinding Glimpse of the Obvious) "But this reprisal will not be drastic. We will feel the effect little by little." US ambassador to Manila Francis Ricciardone told reporters after meeting with Filipino Foreign Secretary Delia Albert on Monday that the "very serious disagreement" between the two allies over the military pullout had had "an impact on our interests and also of the Philippines as well as our allies and the Iraqis." However, he said both the United States and the Philippines were "going to work as hard as we can on all of the things that are important to both of our countries." The US Agency for International Development has provided more than four billion dollars in assistance to Manila, its former colony, over the past 30 years. The Philippines is also the world's fourth largest recipient of US foreign military financing, obtaining 114.46 million dollars last year, according to the US embassy here. Something tells me there might some six million less headed their way next time. In Washington, the State Department said Monday it was not reviewing the Philippines' status as a "major non-NATO ally" despite the Iraq pullout. Washington conferred the status on the Philippines in October last year to foster cooperation on military research and development and give the Philippines greater access to American defense equipment and supplies. Posted by: Zenster 2004-08-11 |
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