Posted on 08/30/2009 4:41:11 PM PDT by decimon
The estimated 600 American special forces in Mindanao are active participants in combat operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the Basilan and Sulu provinces against Abu Sayyaf bandits, former Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian, a whistle-blower on anomalies in the periodic holding of war exercises in the country involving American soldiers, said yesterday.
Malacañang has insisted the 600 US troops stationed in Mindanao are not engaged in combat which is prohibited under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
"There were reports that they were actually embedded in the troops who are conducting actual operation or engagement," Gadian, who once served as officer-in-charge of the civil military operations unit of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) which has jurisdiction over Basilan and Sulu, known strongholds of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group, said.
Gadian particularly cited the terms of reference for the 2002-1 Balikatan where it stated the parti-cipation of US troops in the "actual terrain."
"When they say actual terrain, this is the engagement area. They say that they (US troops) only provide advisory and only act in defense of themselves but bullets do not choose the target… you cannot say that you’re only an advisor or only in defense," Gadian said.
Gadian said the US troops also used "special intelligence equipment" in tracking down target terrorists. "When you use special intelligence equipment, you will know the target, who are in there and what area and the location of the target," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at tribune.net.ph ...
So????
This person should become a beekeeper.
Then she could mind her own beeswax.
It's all but been forgotten that we have troops there. After kicking out the U.S. military they started getting kicked hard by the terrorist groups. We worked out a deal to reintroduce a limited number of special troops in a limited capacity.
This may still be a sensitive political issue there but I suspect the revelation is a yawner to the locals.
> It’s all but been forgotten that we have troops there. After kicking out the U.S. military they started getting kicked hard by the terrorist groups. We worked out a deal to reintroduce a limited number of special troops in a limited capacity.
I Dont forget. My brother married a great Filipina gal, and believe it or not, the weekly Fil newspapers in L.A. have more positve news about our soldiers visiting the Philippines complete with pictures of them assisting in food and typhoon relief than our own 5th column MSM.
Regardless of the “political mumbo jumbo” by the US consulate there, the US Special Forces are kicking ass there.
Glad they are there and had “assumed” and hoped such covert operations had been in progress.
Just does not do us collectively, any good to have our enemies knowing for certain of such things.
I think the Philippine people were much divided about giving the U.S. military the boot. But the heat of the moment held sway.
The lieutenant lady swabby MUST have debriefed, must have been advised and sworn to keep it to herself; for reasons familiar to many on FR.
It's not nice to swear an oath then break it unless there is far more at stake than an SF detachment working with regional forces who happen to be fighting confirmed bad guys.
But I imagine it will be quite popular in today's political environment.
You mean the “Nicole” case? Where after a year it was found out that she was after a Green Card? It is divided, but however times they try to protest, the VFA will still stand.
No. I don't recall that.
I’m all for the CIA whacking her treasonous ass.
just Google (or Dogpile) Nicole -VFA, which was the “rape” case by Sgt Daniel Smith on “Nicole” in 2005..later convicted in 2006 but the US refused to hand over Smith to the Philippine govt because they could not ensure his safety.
It later blew up in the faces of the RP govt when Nicole dropped this bombshell ;She added: “I was scared of losing not only my American boyfriend but the chance of living in the United States.”
Okay, thanks. I think I now do recall something about that.
No probs. I could also tell you the unbelievable story how he got a Philippine drivers license and you’ll get an idea of how easy it is to hide there. But that’s another tale for next time..
I concur.
And the way The O is going after the CIA, we're going to see the PICTURES (hopefully video) :-))
Further proof that women have no damn business in the fighting branches.It's not "combat," you silly twat, it's a "training exercise!"
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