Right after 9/11, we dispatched an army to the Phillipines to fight Al-Qaeda. We haven’t heard a peep about it since. What’s the SD? BTW the issue of “the Phillipines” is another thread entirely!
Yes, especially since it’s spelled “Philippines”.
Thanks! I don’t need 2 English teachers, btw!
Well, we didn’t dispatch an Army. 'Twas merely a few advisors.
Well, it was around 1500 special forces trainers and military engineers. Which I guess can qualify as “a few advisors.”
As far as I know, they’ve only left a handful of military personnel there, but I’ll check on it.
Oh, I dunno. It might have helped with a google search.
President Arroyo of The Philippines was just in the United States, where President Bush proclaimed that they were a “major non-NATO ally,” which gives them access to U.S. defense goodies. He also announced that the U.S. will be sending more troops to help fight Abu Sayyaf (there are currently about 500, all in non-direct-combat roles, so not so much an “army” as one might usually use the term).
Also, the Philippine government claims this week to have killed 50 people from MILF, the muslim separatist group which the U.S. and Philippine governments allege have ties with Abu Sayyaf and which has been operating there for a quarter century.
A few months ago the administration announced that we’d take an active, i.e. beyond advisory, role in the next set of phillipino war games. When it was pointed out that the constitution of the Phillipines precludes such use of foreign troops, president Arroyo backed away from the plan. Now things are moving in that direction again, and the rebel alliance doesn’t like it. A good way to stay current on this undereported situation is to occasionally browse the stories at the Manila Times. Still, it’s hard to figure exactly what we’re getting ourselves into.