Girlie bars a no-go zone for US troops

theage.com.au ^ | Jan 25, 2002 | MARK BAKER

[athiestwithagun]

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo has vowed to separate visiting US soldiers and the country's legendary bar girls as the first of a contingent of more than 600 troops began arriving to support operations against the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.

After winning the grudging approval of dissident Vice-President Teofisto Guingona and opposition leaders for the controversial deployment, Mrs Arroyo ordered US and Philippines commanders to ensure that the troops were sent on wholesome sightseeing tours and kept away from sex workers during their recreational breaks.

"The President has emphasised that she doesn't want this presence of US troops to start prostitution activities," spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said after a special meeting of the National Security Council endorsed the biggest foreign troop deployment since US forces were expelled from the country a decade ago.

"One proposal is for US troops to go out of their barracks in groups and in guided tours. Going out alone will not be allowed."

The big former US bases at Subic Bay and Clark Field, shut down a decade ago amid strong opposition to the presence of US forces in the Philippines, have been widely blamed for contributing to the country's burgeoning sex trade.

Bar girls are reported to be eagerly awaiting the fresh influx of potential customers.

A group of 13 US troops flew into Zamboanga yesterday to join an advance party of about 50 military personnel who have established a base camp. The rest of the contingent is due next week.

The National Security Council endorsed the deployment late on Wednesday after Mrs Arroyo gave fresh assurances that the troops would not be engaged in combat operations and a Justice Department opinion declared the plan did not breach a constitutional prohibition on foreign troops fighting on Philippines soil.

While the government now claims the US forces will primarily be involved in training, about 160 US special forces will be deployed in support of Filipino troops on Basilan island, stronghold of Abu Sayyaf rebels who are holding hostage two American missionaries and a Filipina nurse.

The operation is being seen as a new phase of the US-led war against terrorism, with US forces bolstering the flagging effort to eradicate several hundred remaining Abu Sayyaf fighters linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

[athiestwithagun]

This stupid broad has soldiers confused with ministers. Unless soldiers have changed a whole lot since 1973, this is not going to go over real well.

[aomagrat]

I love you no sh!#.

[Billthedrill]

No, no, you don't understand - all a government official has to do is declare it so and soldiers and prostitutes will never meet.

(I can't even type that with a straight face. I'm thinking Arroyo will probably rescind the Law of Gravity next.)

[Frankss]

you can't buy unless someone is selling

[Enterprise]

The PC crowd does not understand the link between violence experienced by soldiers (or other people for that matter) and a need for sex. The need for human intimacy to GREATLY enhanced when people have violent encounters like war or experience continued stress and pain. The PC crowd needs to quit trying to form other people into their own image unless they are willing to subject THEMSELVES to the same physical danger, psychological or emotional stress. I hope the sodiers in the Philippines make a B line straight for the nearest strip bar. There, they can mingle with Japanese Businessmen and the loca girls and help to improve international relations. HA HA

[Brian Mosely]

There goes one of our best recruting tools of the United States Armed Services. The hospitality of ol' Subic Bay.

[Tennessee_Bob]

"The President has emphasised that she doesn't want this presence of US troops to start prostitution activities,"

I guess my question at this point is, "When did these activities stop?"

[disclaimer]

No, no, you don't understand - all a government official has to do is declare it so and soldiers and prostitutes will never meet.

What's this - prostitutes? We're talking about 'sex workers' here. Try to stay in context.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Great. Now NOBODY'S going to want to pull a WestPac cruise.

[Billthedrill]

Yeeps! You are quite correct [sound of vigorous mouth-soaping]. I didn't mean to imply that the young ladies actually took money for the activity...

Things sure used to hop at the intersection of Magsaysay and Rizal...and I was there before the alligator died...

[Redbob]

No girlie bars?
Then what's the point of GOING to the Phillipines?

[Pearls Before Swine]

No girlie bars? Then what's the point of GOING to the Phillipines?

For the pineapples?

[hang 'em]

I wonder if they still do that thing they do with a stack of pesos.

[glorgau]

LBFM

[Squantos]

LOL ! ......Kinda like keeping Rosie OhDoughnut's away from a cookie ain't it ? Ain't gonna happen.........LMBO !!! .....keep GI's away from titty bars.......he'd have better luck getting one of em to hug Osama before they gave up a PI Boom Boom Room !

Stay Safe !

[athiestwithagun]

I didn't mean to imply that the young ladies actually took money for the activity

Uh, I don't know how to break this to you...

[bulldawg]

Gloria love you long long time saila boy!!!

bulldawg

[Wu]

"I wonder if they still do that thing they do with a stack of pesos"

LMAO