32 Killed following Clashes between Muslim Rebels and Philippine

CRIENGLISH ^ | Aug 9, 2012

[Milagros]

The death toll from the ongoing battle between Muslim rebels and state security forces in southern Philippines has reached 32...

[Mouton]

I hope the Phillipinos are using 45s, I understand lesser calibers had problems bringing down these savages in the past.

[Milagros]

It's a matter of survival. Look at the sheer numbers:

The Muslim insurgency began in the early 1970s and the fighting has killed some 150,000 people as well as plunged large parts of the south into deep poverty.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/306257/one-dead-in-breakaway-rebel-attack-in-philippines

[skinkinthegrass]

didn't it start, long before 1970s...
Gen. MacArthur (Sr.) & Blackjack Perhsoning(sp?) in 19th Century?

[Sarajevo]

The Muslim insurgency began in the early 1970s and the fighting has killed some 150,000 people as well as plunged large parts of the south into deep poverty.

Propaganda.

The people along the chain of islands called the "Sulu Highway" were ignored by the central government in Manila for years. They hiked up their own boots and built schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure. Suddenly, the central government wants to take charge. Amazingly, this coincided with the "War on Terror", and the US desire to have a footprint in the area. Of course, the Filipino's stand with their hand out and say, "I want to be your friend" as we hand over military equipment and money.
The end state is the Philippine Army walking into a village and telling the inhabitants to leave, for no reason other than they are "evil muslims". If they don't leave, they die when the Philippine Air Force bombs them.

Deep poverty? Many of the tribal people in that area don't want the western comforts. It's not poverty, it's their lifestyle.

[Mark17]

I went to Eastern Mindanao in 2003, and even the people who live in eastern Mindanao, are scared to death at what goes on in western Mindanao.

[Milagros]

Moro Jihad began in Southgern Philippines in 1969, the various Moro Muslim rebeles were called Mujahids.* it has become increasingly more 'Islamic,' especially through the MILF,* yet, even the more "moderate" MNLF called for a jihad and to establish an all out Islamic Republic.* Some 150,000 would be killed since the 1970s.*

[Milagros]

I am not justifying every mishap the Philippines govt. did or did not take. I never heard that they are against the rebels just because of the rebels’ religion... Yet, the rebels, though started in 1969 as a lefty group of Muslims, it soon became mre Sharia in goal and in aim, in 1990, even the more lefty party among them declared its now an all out holy war, not to mention the milf and the ASG.

[Sarajevo]

I really don't know why. The same things were happening in Cotabato and General Santos, just on a smaller scale. Zamboanga has/had the luxury of being a "safe zone city". All players took R&R there and left each other alone.

I worked on Edwin Andrews Air Base, but never felt threatened when off base.