U.S. troops may fight in Philippines

Agreement could expand current U.S. role

From Jamie McIntyre
CNN

U.S. troops during a recent training exercise in the Philippines Story Tools SPECIAL REPORT War against terror: Southeast Asia front  FACT BOX Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) The ASG is the most violent of the Islamic separatist groups operating in the southern Philippines. Some ASG leaders have studied or worked in the Middle East and allegedly fought in Afghanistan during the Soviet war. Leadership The group split from the Moro National Liberation Front in the early 1990s under the leadership of Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, who was killed in a clash with Philippine police December 18, 1998. His younger brother, Khadaffy Janjalani, has replaced him as the nominal leader of the group, which is composed of several semi-autonomous factions. Activities Engages in kidnappings for ransom, bombings, assassinations, and extortion. Although from time to time it claims that its motivation is to promote an independent Islamic state in western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, areas in the southern Philippines heavily populated by Muslims, the ASG now appears to use terror mainly for financial profit. Strength Believed to have a few hundred core fighters, but at least 1,000 individuals motivated by the prospect of receiving ransom payments for foreign hostages allegedly joined the group in 2000-2001. External Aid Largely self-financing through ransom and extortion; may receive support from Islamic extremists in the Middle East and South Asia. Source: U.S. State Department

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- In an expansion of their current counter-terrorism role, the U.S. military is planning to allow special operations troops to fight offensively with Philippine forces battling Muslim rebels.

Pentagon sources told CNN Thursday that the plan was expected to be finalized this week, and would mark the first time U.S. troops were authorized to take offensive measures.

The role played by U.S. troops is a sensitive issue, however, because of constitutional limitations on non-Philippine troops engaging in combat in the country, which was formerly administered by the United States.

The Philippine government has consistently referred to all U.S. programs as training or exercises, rather than anti-terrorism operations.

"This will be a no-holds-barred effort," said one Pentagon official familiar with the planning. "This is not an exercise."

But a spokesman for Philippine Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said any such plans had "not been finalized yet" and that the government would have to change its constitution before they could proceed.

Reyes was, however, going to the U.S. Pacific Command this weekend for meetings on the possible operation, the official said.

U.S. officials said while the Philippine government has not officially announced the operation, they said their understanding is that it's a "done deal."

Under the plan, according to the Pentagon officials, the Special Forces will be actively hunting for Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo island in the southern Philippines, while another 1,400 U.S. troops will be involved in the operation but mostly in support roles.

The first U.S. troops will begin to leave for the Philippines within days, sources said.

Last year, about 1,200 U.S. military trainers and support crews conducted a six-month training operation in which U.S. troops advised Philippine troops.

During that time the Philippine troops, under the watch of U.S. troops, rooted out most of the Abu Sayyaf rebels from the island of Basilan.

The Abu Sayyaf claim to be fighting for an independent Muslim homeland in the south of the predominantly catholic Philippines.

The group has been waging its campaign mainly through guerilla attacks on villages and the taking of hostages for ransom.

Terrorist ties

The United States believes it has seen increased ties between Abu Sayyaf and the Islamic extremist network Jemaah Islamiyah, which has known connections to al Qaeda, officials said.

Several terrorist groups operate in the Philippines where there have been a series of deadly bombings, kidnappings and other attacks against both government and civilian targets.

An October 2 incident blamed on Abu Sayyaf killed three people, including a U.S. Green Beret in the port city of Zamboanga.

Pentagon officials say investigations following some of those attacks have turned up information indicating there may be a stronger link than earlier believed between Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah.

The Philippine military early this month announced it had underestimated by nearly 50 percent the number of Abu Sayyaf and warned it would take a long time before they are wiped out.

A Department of National Defense report submitted to the Philippine Congress late last year placed their strength at 250, down from 800 in 2001.

Wave of violence

But Chief of Staff General Dionisio Santiago acknowledged February 5 that a recheck of military documents and figures showed a number closer to 500 -- most on the impoverished island of Jolo.

A wave of violence has swept through the southern Philippines this week with at least 15 people killed in suspected Muslim militant actions. (Full story)

That action has been linked to a second Islamic group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which also operates in the remote southern islands of the Philippines.

The Philippine army has recently been cracking down on the MILF with a major offensive on the island of Mindanao last week.

As many as 140 people were killed in that action, most of them MILF rebels, the army said. The MILF sids only 40 of its fighters were dead.

Last Wednesday, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved a draft peace proposal for the Muslim separatists.

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