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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines planning to form anti-terror units |
| 2002-06-06 |
| The Philippine military will form special rapid-response units to take over from U.S. Special Forces in dealing with terrorists and other armed threats on a southern island that is the base of Muslim extremist rebels. The two companies of 90 soldiers each would help maintain stability on the southern island of Basilan after the scheduled departure next month of the U.S. Special Forces at the end of their counterterrorism exercise. The U.S. and Philippine governments may, however, extend the operation. "Our American friends will not be here forever," said Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio. "We should be ready to react to threats on our own." Teodosio said the two "strike forces" would undergo crash combat courses within the next few weeks in a camp in nearby Zamboanga city. They would be deployed to Basilan to quickly respond to threats before regular troops arrive. They will be strategically positioned with standby helicopters, he added. The new units would be separate from two army Light Reaction Companies trained and equipped by U.S. forces in assault, sniping and hostage rescue last year. U.S. military officials are planning to train two more companies during an ongoing counterterrorism exercise on Basilan. Thought the whole point of the U.S. presence in the P.I. was to train these guys? |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |