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| Iraq-Jordan | ||
| Philippines May Withdraw Troops From Iraq | ||
| 2004-04-14 | ||
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Wednesday that mounting violence in Iraq had prompted her government to study whether to withdraw its 100 troops from the Mideast nation.
The Philippine contingent of military and civilian personnel in central Iraq has suffered no fatalities. Military spokesman Col. Daniel Lucero said the deployment has been open-ended with no date set for withdrawal. "We stand shoulder to shoulder with the international community in this commitment and that is why we are not making any rush decisions," Arroyo said in a statement. She said while the government remains committed to helping rebuild Iraq, "the safety of our peacekeeping forces in Iraq is still our utmost concern." Filipino peacekeepers are serving under Polish command. Last month, 28 policemen and soldiers returned home to a hero's welcome after seven months of peacekeeping work. A similar number of policemen and soldiers are preparing to leave for Iraq later this week, officials said.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 Don't forget that the Philippines is having its own election process right now. Also, Halfass, the Philippines were not 'sucking at washington's tit' for 100 years. The Philippines were a colony of the U.S. after the Spanish-American war (and the Philippine-American war - they did not want to be a colony) until Japan invaded and occupied them in WW2 -- hardly 100 years ago. (Ok. enough about that :) That said, they are our close allies (moreso then most -- where are the Canadian and Mexican troops? Hell the Philippines are already engaged in the WOT in their own backyard yet they can send troops to Iraq.). There is some opposition to the Philippines sending troops within the government and some internal calls to bring them home. Arroyo has always been a supporter on the War on Terror. Here is something from the the Manila Times: But despite the series of abductions in Iraq, the President is firm on her decision not to pull out the 96-man Philippine peacekeeping contingent in Iraq. She said that the peacekeeping force would remain there as long as they are needed. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-04-14 9:47:00 AM |
| #4 All of you need to calm down. She didn't say she was _going_ to withdraw the Filipino troops, she said she was going to have her people _study_ whether the troops should be withdrawn or maintained, and also threw in a qualifier: "The decision on whether or not to withdraw our peacekeeping forces will depend on the security situation in Iraq in the days to come," said Arroyo, a staunch support of the war on terror. What _I_ think is that this statement was made for domestic consumption, to pacify the opposition in the Philippines, and as such is so much hot air and will remain hot air - _if_ WE stay resolute. In the end, everyone is taking their cues from us. |
| Posted by: Joe 2004-04-14 5:32:21 AM |
| #3 What....they only send their military into "safe" situations? They weren't expecting some possible hostilities? Boy, when it comes to the "nut cuttin'", you find out who your friends are. Our guys are dying in the jungles of Mindinao, and other islands in the Philippines, teaching them how to fight terrorists..... and they can't support us with a lousy 100 troops? After sucking Washington's tit for 100 years, you'd think they'd jump at the chance to stand with us. |
| Posted by: Halfass Pete 2004-04-14 12:58:05 AM |
| #2 What the heck do they think Abu Sayyaf, the MILF, and JI are? The Philippines is already a target. They managed to become one quite independent of the US and will remain one long after they've extricated themselves from Iraq. |
| Posted by: Dan Darling 2004-04-14 12:43:24 AM |
| #1 "Left-wing groups (said) the Philippines could be targeted by Washington's enemies" Heaven forbid, that would ruin its reputation as the haven of peace and stability that it is today. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4157 2004-04-14 12:23:49 AM |