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Southeast Asia
Philippines open to fresh Iraq deployment
2004-08-10
The Philippines says it is open to sending a fresh humanitarian mission to Iraq under a United Nations charter, following a diplomatic row with the United States for its recent abrupt troop pullout. The Philippines last month angered the US and other coalition partners when it withdrew its 51-man contingent ahead of schedule. The pullout met demands by Iraqi militants, who had threatened to behead a Filipino hostage. However, measures are being taken to patch up what US ambassador to Manila Francis Ricciardone calls a "very serious disagreement". There are threats of possible aid cut-backs from the US, Philippines's key military and trade ally. Foreign Secretary Delia Albert says that Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has written to President Gloria Arroyo expressing an "ardent wish" for both countries to work in boosting cooperation in security issues. President Gloria Arroyo in response assured Mr Allawi that Manila is still committed to helping rebuild Iraq. Ms Albert says Ms Arroyo remains open to the idea of sending peacekeepers under a UN framework.
"And since odds are against there being any kind of UN framework, we probably won't have to, right, Narcisso?"
"That's correct, Madame President! And might I comment that you look particularly ravishing today!"
She says the Philippines "will continue to engage ourselves with the development of his (Allawi's) country."
"We just won't get very close to it."
"And that's a stunning brooch, Madame President!"
Posted by:Fred

#7  You're right, Brett. Like Japan and Okinawa during the Cold War, we now need the Philippines as a forward base in fighting Asian terrorism. Sadly, the Philippines does not seem to understand that they need us a lot more than we need them. Arroyo really screwed the pooch with her ill thought out move.

She pissed off more than just America. Many Philippine guest workers (and their families at home) will wonder why this one hostage got the red carpet treatment while so many others come home in cardboard coffins from Saudi Arabia after being raped as sex slaves or held as virtual prisoners.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-08-10 17:38  

#6  How about deploying their famous 82nd Filipino Airborne Hostage Brigade?
Posted by: ed   2004-08-10 17:32  

#5  I have also thought we should pull our troops out, but that would be a bad idea. I know I have read numerous stories about JI-affiliated groups using the S Phillipines islands for training bases since there is little authority there. We need to be there because it is in our interests to limit this.
Posted by: Brett_the_Quarkian   2004-08-10 17:18  

#4  It is going to be damned hard to rebuild trust between the US and Arroyo's government after we got stabbed in the back in Iraq. Arroyo needs to learn this lesson. It must be burned into her brain. You want the quid with out the pro quo? Find another sucker.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-08-10 17:15  

#3  Z,

I have been watching for it, but nary a word. I imagine it will be very difficult to trace and will involve several middlemen (i.e. Malaysia).
Posted by: Brett_the_Quarkian   2004-08-10 17:12  

#2  I'll reserve judgement until another Philippine national is kidnapped. That's when the rubber will meet the road.

Does anyone have factual confirmation of the six million dollar ransom that the Philippines was supposed to have paid? If it truly happened, that alone was a crime in and of itself.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-08-10 16:49  

#1  What the hell for? They'll just turn tail and run again.

Anyway, they'll need all their troops at home now that they've shown their islamonazis how to win.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-08-10 16:38  

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