Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bush pledges money, training for RP military
INQ7 / AFP ^ | Oct. 18, 2003 / 5:31 PM (Manila Time) | Agence France-Presse

Posted on 10/18/2003 3:51:07 AM PDT by Steel Wolf

US President George W. Bush on Saturday pledged to contribute training and an unspecified sum of money to help the Philippines military as it embarks on a five-year modernization and reform plan.

"Today, President (Gloria Macapagal-)Arroyo and her government committed to a five-year plan to modernize and reform your military," Bush said in remarks prepared for delivery to lawmakers here during an eight-hour state visit. "My country will provide technical assistance, field expertise, and funding," he promised in what was the first speech by a US president to a joint session of the Philippines Congress since Dwight Eisenhower in 1960.

Bush also vowed to help the Philippines bring Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels "to justice" and promised to work with Southeast Asian nations to dismantle the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group. "My government and yours are pursuing a common objective: We will bring Abu Sayyaf to justice," he said. "And we will continue to work with our friends in Southeast Asia to dismantle the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network and other groups that traffic in violence and chaos."

On Friday, a senior administration official said Washington wanted to help Manila battle local extremists but acknowledged that a pledge to provide refurbished combat helicopters had hit a funding snag. "I'll be honest with you, we haven't found funding yet. I'm sure we will by the end of the next fiscal year, but we're not there yet," he told reporters on condition of anonymity.

Security concerns ran high during Bush's visit here, and he was late almost an hour in getting to the Congress because "large crowds of people" blocked his route, said White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan. "There were large crowds of people on the motorcade route, and the (US) Secret Service wanted to make sure it was secure. So they worked with Philippine authorities to make sure the area was secure," she said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: abusayyaf; afp; apec; apecsummit; bush; gma; philppines; wot
It was good to hear Bush recognize and reinforce the Asian front of the War on Terror. Five years of training, and modernization for the Philippine military will help them considerably in battling the Abu Sayyaf and other insurgent / terrorist threats. Also, our presence will apply pressure to Jemaah Islamiyaah, which seeks to make inroads in the southern Philippines. Slowly but surely, we will be able to stop the region's descent into bloody fundamentalist spawned chaos.
1 posted on 10/18/2003 3:51:08 AM PDT by Steel Wolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Steel Wolf
I happened to wake very (and I do mean VERY) early this morning and happened to catch the last 5 minutes of his speech. It was very well-received and he got a standing ovation from the Congress.
2 posted on 10/18/2003 3:52:56 AM PDT by Miss Marple
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MrNatural
Abu Sayyaf / Al Qaida wannabe ping!

Also, according to many local newspapers, Janjalani, Abu Sulaiman, and other top ASG leaders are being pursued by government forces. The infamous JI bombmaker Al Ghozi was recently killed while resisting arrest during a National Police raid, and some speculate that the rest of the ASG leadership could soon face a similiar fate.

(Whistles innocently)

3 posted on 10/18/2003 3:58:25 AM PDT by Steel Wolf (Too close for guns, switching to missiles!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Miss Marple
From the rest of the media in my area, he's gotten very positive coverage. There was some concern about protesters being disruptive during his visit, but for the most part the entire country seemed to stop what they were doing and listen. I believe that his speech was well recieved both from the Congress and from the average citizen.
4 posted on 10/18/2003 4:04:52 AM PDT by Steel Wolf (Too close for guns, switching to missiles!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Steel Wolf
It's a shame it won't be broadcast here later today. I will try and post the speech when it appears on the White House web site.

I am glad to have a report from the area, as opposed to American press reports. Thank you for the information!

5 posted on 10/18/2003 4:24:00 AM PDT by Miss Marple
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Steel Wolf
I have no problem with the Phillipines but can we just spend the money on improvements to OUR OWN military, please?
6 posted on 10/18/2003 5:10:14 AM PDT by NoControllingLegalAuthority
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steel Wolf
The coverage of the alleged "coup" there never said much. What happened to the claims of high ranking military/government involvement in arming terrorists and assisting in black flag terror attacks?
7 posted on 10/18/2003 5:18:57 AM PDT by steve50
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steel Wolf

Last look

Family and friends take one last look at the body of terrorist Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi before his burial in Madiun, Indonesia on Friday. One of Asia's most wanted terrorists, al-Ghozi was buried in his hometown after a one-day delay for an autopsy which revealed that he was likely shot at long range. - AP

8 posted on 10/18/2003 5:35:23 AM PDT by csvset
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: csvset
Pale, isn't he
9 posted on 10/18/2003 5:41:05 AM PDT by bert (Don't Panic!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: steve50
The coverage of the alleged "coup" there never said much. What happened to the claims of high ranking military/government involvement in arming terrorists and assisting in black flag terror attacks?

The Philippines does have a corruption problem. Open sources are very clear on insurgents being able to purchase arms and equipment from high ranking military officials. Terrorists and criminals routinely buy their way out of capture or prison. Al Ghozi's 'escape' from prison is a perfect example, albiet a brazen and clumsy one. The U.S. hostages of the Abu Sayyaf also reported that the ASG would often pay their way out of trouble when they were cornered. A game of cat and mouse that benefited both sides.

Most of this has been able to flourish because the southern Philippines has been a relative backwater until recently. Now that the scrunity is intensifying, it will be harder for people to play both sides.

10 posted on 10/18/2003 5:51:30 AM PDT by Steel Wolf (Too close for guns, switching to missiles!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Steel Wolf
The orginal reports out of there had the officers claiming that high ranking government/military officials where assisting in attacks with a foreign government and blaming it on terrorists. Pretty big claim to get almost no coverage in the US media. Something stinks here, and the press seems to be doing nothing to clear the air.
11 posted on 10/18/2003 6:04:04 AM PDT by steve50
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: steve50
The orginal reports out of there had the officers claiming that high ranking government/military officials where assisting in attacks with a foreign government and blaming it on terrorists

I've heard the claim that elements of the military have staged bombings to frame the terrorists. The problem is that both sides play dirty. The insurgent / terrorist groups could claim that to distract attention from themselves. The military could sponsor attacks to make the insurgents look bad. Both are plausible. My gut feeling with this is that the military is innocent of this, or if so, it was done by an actual rogue group.

Most of the 'militia' type groups, such as the Guardians of Mindinao, would never support attacks on their own people, even to make the enemy look bad.

12 posted on 10/18/2003 6:14:08 AM PDT by Steel Wolf (Too close for guns, switching to missiles!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Steel Wolf
The press blackout leads me to believe that there has to be some truth to the claims. They got one short message out before they gave up. They haven't got a word to the press since, and the fact that the press isn't even asking says alot.
13 posted on 10/18/2003 6:29:41 AM PDT by steve50
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Steel Wolf
..'militia' type groups, such as the Guardians of Mindinao..

Civilian groups formed to protect their particular town or locality? Are they at all effective?

14 posted on 10/18/2003 8:07:48 AM PDT by MrNatural (..".You want the truth?!"...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson