First U.S. Skirmish With Guerrillas in Philippines

MSNBC ^ | 3/16/02 | Associated Press

[glorygirl]

Skirmish in Philippines involves U.S.

U.S. copters evacuate Filipinos; 1 dies in fight with extremists

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, March 16 — U.S. military helicopters evacuated three wounded Filipino soldiers after a clash with Muslim extremists on a remote southern island that left one Filipino dead, officials said Saturday.

About 660 U.S. soldiers are in the southern Philippines on a mission to train Philippine troops.

IT WAS THE FIRST KNOWN time that U.S. military advisers in the southern Philippines had a role, even indirect, in the Philippines’ war with Abu Sayyaf guerrillas who have been linked to the international al-Qaida network. Maj. Noel Detoyato, a Philippine military spokesman, said two U.S. Pave Hawk helicopters deployed to the war-torn island of Basilan late Friday after Abu Sayyaf guerrillas ambushed a Philippine army patrol, killing one soldier and wounding three. The Pave Hawks are a version of the popular Army Blackhawks. The fighting had apparently subsided by the time the helicopters reached the site from their temporary base in the nearby city of Zamboanga. A U.S. military spokeswoman confirmed the evacuation but refused to elaborate.

Detoyato said the Filipinos were ambushed as they marched to establish a forward base in the northwest of the island which is home to about 60 guerrillas who hold two Americans and a Filipina hostage. About 660 U.S. soldiers are in the southern Philippines on a mission to train Philippine troops to better fight the rebels and to rescue Martin and Gracia Burnham, of Wichita, Kan., and Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap. They have been held hostage for more than nine months.

[doug from upland]

We are going to have to kill these b*stards around the world. Wherever there is conflict, there are radical Muslims.

[Howie66]

Making "good"(*) Al Qaeda is a good endevor.

(*) "Good" Al Qaeda = DEAD Al Qaeda

Let's go and make a whole sh*tload of "Good" Al Qaeda.

LET'S ROLL!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Before 9/11 we had USA military in 140 countries around the world.
There were plans only to cut the number of troops in Bosnia at that time.
Due to 9/11 our military is expanding to more countries.
In fact US Military expansion is now the greatest in US history.
Please take a moment to e-mail someone in the military and say Thanks.

The USO Canteen Post Office

[GuillermoX]

Wherever there is conflict, there are radical Muslims

Except for the Clinton household. Oh wait, I forgot, Chelsea had a fling with Islam a while back.

[glorygirl]

bump

[Nix 2]

Wherever there is conflict, there are radical Muslims.

If there is a devil, these soulless creatures are his elect. Anti-life. No conscience, no redeeming qualities. They would murder sunlight to plunge the world into darkness.

[gg188]

You're exactly right.

If you look at how many Germans supported the Nazis----and I wager that a far, far, far greater percentage of Muslims support these killers. I believe Dubya recognizes the magnitude of the task. There are many, many Americans who do not.

[fire_eye]

Except for the Clinton household. Oh wait, I forgot, Chelsea had a fling with Islam a while back.

Oh, from your mouth to God's ears. The world would be a much more beautiful place if she wore a Burkha...

[JFoxbear]

Are there any mostly muslim countries where peace and tranquility is the atmosphere?

I sure don't know of any.

I'm hearing all around the media bias that Islam means peace and love... But I don't see any where they live!

[Libertarian_4_eva]

If you look at how many Germans supported the Nazis----and I wager that a far, far, far greater percentage of Muslims support these killers. I believe Dubya recognizes the magnitude of the task. There are many, many Americans who do not.

I believe that hitler got around 33% of the vote.

[HappyInfidel]

haaaaaaaaa ha...very good BUMP

[HappyInfidel]

Some of my best friends are in Germany, and they are very sad for their history. Thinking of Germany like that is just like someone accusing you of owning slaves....it's unrealistic at this point and time.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"You say this like its a Good Thing."

All I did was state the facts.
I never said I thought it was good or bad.

[Righty1]

We need to save a few rounds for the U of South Florida. Was ein shithole.

[jennyp]

You say this like its a Good Thing. Tell me, after we wipe Islam from the face of the earth, can we go back to the "avoid foreign entanglements" approach?

LOL, I know what you mean! I want to wipe Islam off the face of the earth like we (pretty much) wiped Communism away. For basically the same reasons: They're morally collectivist ideologies, and therefore inherently anti-life. And yet, one of the reasons radical Islam has festered & broken out & metastasized was because the Soviet Union's soft underbelly is historically muslim, and we used that fact against the Soviets.

I know that the Leviathan state, once growing, is almost impossible to cut back to its pre-war size & intrusiveness. But I'm not willing to abandon the very real necessity of killing the Islamic cancer.

So maybe we should discuss what were the worst & least-worst aspects of how we conducted the cold war against the Evil Empire, so we can more clearly chart a truly American course thru what may be another long, cold war?

I'd say Radio Liberty & the VOA (back when they were kick-butt unapologetic for being American outlets) were one of the best approaches.

The worst? Well, I've always been frustrated at how the US backed any 3rd world dictator as long as they were "our dictator". Although - I haven't re-examined that premise lately, and several of my premises regarding America & Communism have been shattered since the KGB archives were opened up.

Then there's the general size & intrusiveness of the government. But that's not really the Cold War's fault - it's more the fact that socialism had taken over academia in general. This time we won't have the equivalent happening, since there's no big danger that Islam will infect general American society.

[American in Israel]

Our troops are deployed in more places than in before in Americas history, with one of the smaller armys ever fielded. We have lost over half our fleet in Clintoons day, our Air Force is decimated, and in a poor state of repair. Base closures have weakend our defense, Our offensive missile system stocks are beyond critical, our defensive missile systems do not exist. Join the National Guard and get an overseas billet.

Who is watching the store? Wake up America, Wake up.

[American in Israel]

They would murder sunlight to plunge the world into darkness.

Sunlight is a Jewish plot against the Moon God.

[McGavin999]

Any word on the wounded? Hope they recover and glad we could get them out. Jungle warfare is dangerous but if the people are to be safe it has to be done.