Military

DATE=1/20/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S TROOPS PHILIPPINES (L-O)

NUMBER=2-285478

BYLINE=JESSICA BERMAN

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

///// THIS SCRIPT PRODUCED SUNDAY 1/20/02. /////

INTRO: The U-S has dispatched more soldiers and equipment to the Philippines on an anti-terrorism mission. The American troops, whose numbers could eventually reach more than 600, are helping Philippine forces to put down Muslim rebels linked to accused terrorist Osama Bin Laden. V-O-A'S Jessica Berman reports.

TEXT: Two dozen U-S soldiers were flown Sunday from Okinawa, Japan to Zamboanga city in the southern Philippines. About 50 U-S troops have arrived recently in the Philippines to train local soldiers to fight Abu Sayyaf guerillas.

Washington has listed Abu Sayyaf as a supporter of the Bin Laden terrorist group, al-Qaida. The Philippine rebel group has also held a U-S missionary couple hostage for the past eight-months.

Appearing on the N-B-C television network program "Meet the Press", Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld described the Philippine mission this way.

/// RUMSFELD ACT ///

We are working with the Philippines, shoulder to shoulder, to provide training in a whole host of techniques and things that are appropriate to chasing down terrorists... Second, there will be an exercise taking place for a finite period of time somewhere in the Philippines at some point, and I look forward to it. And we have had a good military relationship with the country.

/// END ACT ///

Secretary Rumsfeld said he understood the Philippine constitution prohibited combat troops from other nations from fighting in the Philippines. That might also preclude attempts to rescue the missionaries.

/// RUMSFELD ACT ///

(RUMSFELD): The Filipinos have four or five-thousand troops on Basilan island trying to rescue the missionary.

(Q): Will the United States assist them in that effort?

(RUMSFELD): We will be participating in training with them in various ways, yes. We are certainly anxious to have those missionaries released or recovered.

/// END ACT ///

Some Philippine activists have expressed concern that the presence of American forces could make the country - in the words of one - "an extension of Afghanistan."

In an effort to blunt such criticism, the nation's peace advisor is proposing doing away with joint U-S-Philippine field operations so American soldiers do not become rebel targets. (SIGNED)

NEB/JB/RAE