Fight Terror in the Philippines

With the Taliban regime ousted from Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden in hiding, President George W. Bush has opened a new front in the war against terrorism. As of Jan. 15 the first of what will become a force of 650 military advisors arrived in the Philippines to train the Philippine army for its ongoing fight against Abu Sayyaf, a group of Islamic fundamentalists with strong links to al Qaeda. The American forces, invited by the Philippine government, will train the Philippine military to fight the insurgents hiding in the jungles on the southern island of Basilan. We support Bush in this new effort to fight al Qaeda’s international network.

Abu Sayyaf is a nefarious terror group that has demonstrated no respect for human life. Over the past decade, its members have kidnapped foreign tourists and missionaries and either ransomed them or, in some cases, beheaded them. They continue to hold hostages; two Americans and a Philippine nurse are currently in their grasp. In 1995 they were accused of massacring 52 Philippine villagers. In this war on terror, it is important for America to offer help to nations attempting to eradicate groups like Abu Sayyaf.

The Philippines is one of America’s allies in the Pacific Rim. In the midst of the global economic downturn and growing concerns about the fundamentalist movement, the tourist industry in the Philippines has been depressed. The Philippine government’s request presents an opportunity for America to work with the Philippines not only to eliminate Abu Sayyaf but also to encourage Philippine economic growth and ensure the safety of foreigners in the country.

Though American forces training Philippine soldiers should serve both countries well, the U.S. military should not itself be fighting in the Philippines. American troops will be carrying arms and be permitted to fire in self-defense, but any escalation of American involvement in the conflict would be troubling, especially in light of prior U.S. military actions against rebel guerillas.

It is essential for America to recognize and accommodate the sensitivities of foreign peoples. Until the United States granted the Philippines independence in 1946, the archipelago had been under Western control for centuries. Even after the nation achieved independence, the United States maintained a massive naval and marine base at Subic Bay until 1992, when the Philippine government refused to renew a lease agreement. So resented were the years of foreign domination and so unpopular was the United States’ presence that the Philippine constitution still does not allow foreign combat forces onto Philippine soil. While the United States and the Philippines conduct joint training missions annually, there remains a great deal of animosity amongst the Philippine people toward American combat troops. This is yet another reason that the American forces must remain an advisory body rather than a combat contingent; the last thing America wants to do is rekindle past resentments.

American forces in the Philippines must walk a fine line between keeping a low profile and getting the job done. This new front is a logical second step in the war against terror. American foreign policy after Sept. 11 has been largely successful, and it is in our best interest to broaden our success without involving the United States directly in a potentially protracted jungle war.