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PHILIPPINES: Delay of Joint Training May Reflect U.S. Focus on Iraq
October 5, 2002
Summary
The Philippine military has announced that a training exercise involving U.S. troops that originally was slated to begin in October is now tentatively scheduled to start in February 2003. The delay ostensibly is due to Manila's sluggishness in putting up its part of the funding. But it also could reflect Washington's inability to spare Special Operations forces -- an indication of just how much the focus on Iraq may be affecting the worldwide hunt for al Qaeda.
Analysis
A U.S. military anti-terrorism training exercise in the Philippines, originally scheduled to run from October 2002 to June 2003, has been tentatively rescheduled for February through December 2003. The Philippines' ABS-CBN News cited a spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as saying U.S. and Philippine officials had agreed upon the delay after Manila was too late in releasing money for the training and the purchase of specialized equipment, including night-vision goggles.
The official reason for the postponement makes little sense given the heightened importance of Southeast Asia in the global war against terrorism. Rather, despite AFP denials, Washington might be concerned that sending its troops to the Philippines now could result in them getting bogged down should Abu Sayyaf or communist militants step up attacks. Washington is extremely concerned about the deployment and availability of its Special Operations forces as it prepares for action in Iraq, and the delayed Philippine deployment could represent a concrete case of the focus on Iraq interfering with the global hunt for al Qaeda.
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Dan
Philippines: Delay of Joint Training May Reflect U.S. Focus on Iraq . . .