Over 70 US military intelligence men in the southern Philippines

[Judi Lynn]

Over 70 US military intelligence men in the southern Philippines
01/25/2005 -- 11:05(GMT+7)

Beijing (VNA) - The United States ambassador to the Philippines Francis Ricciardone admitted on Monday that between 70 to 74 American military intelligence operatives are operating in the country, Xinhua reported.

However, Ricciardone stressed that they are in the Philippines to provide the country's military and police with anti-terrorism training and advice.

"In general, there is ongoing cooperation and intelligence fusion here. About 70 to 74 US military men are aiding intelligence operations," Ricciardone told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

Ricciardone did not say how long the troops would stay in the Philippines or what the legal basis was for their stint in the country.
(snip/...)

http://www.vnanet.vn/NewsA.asp?LANGUAGE_ID=2&CATEGORY_ID=33&NEWS_ID=136673

[mahina]

1. They have been there for at least two years that I know of

and I'm sitting on my ass in Honolulu

And no, the Filipinos are not too stoked, we went in just a short while after they kicked us out. We did joint excercises and never left.

Reminds me of a song my Dad used to sing...how can I miss you if you won't go away?

Mabuhay!

[oblivious]

2. I wonder if they're these kind of intelligence men:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1090380

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2846220&mesg_id=2854374&page=

If so, we can expect more bombings shortly in the Philippines.

[bin.dare]

3. this ambassador is being disengenuous ...

http://www.yonip.com/main/articles/no_more_lies.html

NO MORE LIES: ON THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF U.S. TROOPS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Privilege Speech by Rep. Satur C. Ocampo
Bayan Muna, Party List, House of Representatives, Congress of the Philippines, August 5, 2002

Mr. Speaker,
I rise on an urgent issue of personal and collective privilege.

...
Let us review the developments on this issue in the past months.

First, the administration said that the US military advisers who arrived soon after the September 11, 2002 terrorist attacks in the United States were here to see what kind of military assistance the US could give the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). But it turns out that they assessed the status of military operations against the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and recommended US involvement in such operations in what was billed as a "second front" of the US "war against terrorism."

Next, the administration said only a few hundred US soldiers would be coming for an ordinary training exercise. But it turns out that some 1,500 US troops came and 160 Special Operations Forces (SOF) soldiers were deployed -- first at battalion, later at company level -- in offensive combat operations against the ASG. This, despite the fact that RP and US military doctrines clearly state that "training exercises" are not to be conducted in actual battle zones, against real enemy forces and using live ammunition.

Then the administration said that the so-called exercises would last six months until July 31, 2002. Yes, "Balikatan 02-1" officially ended on July 31. Yet the US troops spokesperson, Major Richard Sater, announced that 160 US SOF troops would remain in Basilan until October, with 900 more soldiers to be stationed in Zamboanga and Cebu. Sater pointed out that these US troops would monitor the first phase of the "Long Term Security Assistance Plan" which, according to Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Command, begins in October.

If that were so, these 1,060 US troops would remain in the country long after Balikatan 02-1. For how could they monitor the implementation of the Long Term Security Assistance Plan if they left by October?

And there's more. AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Roy Cimatu said that, starting in October, an undetermined number of US military advisers would spend nine months not only in Mindanao but in Luzon as well for the next round of "counter-terrorism" operations.

You may ask, Mr. Speaker, and distinguished colleagues, as I do ask: Is the continued stay of these US forces covered by a corresponding Terms of Reference or TOR, as was Balikatan 02-1? Nothing has been said on this matter.

Meanwhile, under President Arroyo's "unequivocal commitment to a partnership with the US in a war on terrorism," Philippine facilities like Clark and Subic have been freely used by the US for transit, refueling, re-supply, and staging operations in its war of aggression against Afghanistan called "Operation Enduring Freedom." Admiral Fargo has described such assistance as "highly valuable," which underscores the importance of the Philippines as a staging post and springboard for the US in the wars it has launched, and will launch, against any country.
...
What are the so-called civic actions covering up? What is the vested interest of the US in building transport infrastructure, permanent structures, installations and facilities? What are the US' larger geopolitical and military designs for the Philippines?
...

We also seek an inquiry into the legal and constitutional basis of the continued presence of US military forces in the country even after the termination of the Balikatan exercises last July 31, 2002, as well as on the human rights implications of the "training" given by the US Special Operations Forces (SOF).

We invite all of our distisnguished colleagues to join us in this resolution. We need to be better informed of the real situation. We need to know the real extent of Philippine involvement in the US' war strategy before we are dragged deeper into becoming America's staging grounds for its wars. We must uphold national sovereignty and defend human rights.

Hard questions must be asked and we need straight answers. The truth must be told.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.