[krb]

Why would we need airspace way over there?

[Skwidd]

To an American, dealing with foreign countries is not unlike dealing with teenagers. "Go away! I hate you! You never ever treat me fair, not ever! I wish you would die!!! Oh yeah, give me some money before you go."

[kayak]

"If such resolution is passed, it is not automatic that every country should join in an attack on Iraq," Malacañang said ...

Nope! Only those countries who want to be considered as being with us rather than being with the terrorists.

[knak]

guess it had nothing to do with this then:

Iraq appeals to Manila on airspace support for US

[marron]

It is grandstanding and appeasement combined.

On the one hand, it allows them to distance themselves from us publicly at no cost to either of us; obviously, we would have no need for Philippine airspace during an attack on Iraq. And if we did, there would be no way to distinguish that a particular flight was war related.

At the same time, they are still fighting Muslims, and apparently hoping that by rolling up into a tight ball, they can avoid further Muslim attacks.

And, finally, they do have a million citizens working in the middle east, although none in Iraq. But annoying the Saudis, for example, could cost them dearly if it should affect Saudi prefences for Philippine technicians. Best, again, to make themselves the smallest possible target.

[aruanan]

Well, I guess if we can't have any bases close to the action for air support, we'll just have to use ICBMs.

[Cindy]

Links of Interest:

CNS NEWS.com: "SOUTHEAST ASIAN TERRORIST ALLIANCE UNCOVERED" by Patrick Goodenough (ARTICLE NOTE: The network of Muslim terrorists has been identified as Jemaah Islamiah (JI). 092002)

CNS NEWS.com: "FILIPINO MILITANTS PROBED" by Patrick Goodenough (ARTICLE SNIPPET: " Security officials in the southern Philippines were meeting Thursday to discuss the alleged collaboration between Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network and a leading Filipino Muslim separatist group currently engaged in peace talks with Manila. The 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denied claims that it had allowed al Qaeda members to train in its camps in the southern Philippines' Mindanao region.") (091902)

Dubai GULF NEWS.com: "MANILA TO SEND BACK 12,000 INDONESIANS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "At the same time, the Philippine government was alarmed by the involvement of many Indonesians based in the southern Philippines to the suspected terror group, the Jemaah Islamiyah, which has links to the Al Qaida network.") (092202)

FBI.gov: "SEEKING INFORMATION"

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