Deadly attack in Philippines sparks alarm

[IndianaGreen]

Source: Army Times

Deadly attack in Philippines sparks alarm

By Jim Gomez - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Sep 30, 2009 19:05:55 EDT

MANILA, Philippines — Two bomb attacks in one day in the southern Philippines — the first of which killed two U.S. soldiers — could signal that al-Qaida-linked militants are launching a new offensive in the region, officials said Wednesday.

Military officials blamed the Abu Sayyaf group for planting explosives that damaged a bridge used by army tanks Tuesday night, just hours after an improvised land mine exploded under a military convoy carrying American troops.

Both attacks were in Indanan township on Jolo island, where the Abu Sayyaf has jungle strongholds and has evaded joint Philippine and U.S. military operations for years.

The attack on the convoy killed U.S. soldiers in the southern Philippines for the first time in seven years, and the bridge attack appeared to be directed at hampering the military’s ability to respond to further attacks, said regional military commander Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino.

“One indication is they might be planning to attack military camps or detachments and they want to limit our mobility,” Dolorfino told The Associated Press.

U.S. Maj. Bradley Gordon said the two Americans killed Tuesday were members of the task force deployed to help quell militants in the southern Philippines.

Read more: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/ap_philippines_attack_093009/

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Why were our troops in a combat zone? Our troops are supposed to be advisors. Filipino law forbids the use of foreign combat troops.

What is new today is that now the US military is expressing concern about an upsurge in Al-Qaeda activities in Philippines. We won't mention the authoritarian regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, or the wealth of the tiny ruling class vis-a-vis the vast poverty in the country.

Earlier story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=4082083

[UpInArms]

1. icasualties.org is listing them as casualties in the Afghanistan "war"

this is getting way too weird

[IndianaGreen]

2. Bush was the one to send special operations troops to the Philippines

and we have done the same in other countries that are off the radar.

[bemildred]

3. "Gee, who could have predicted this?"

Or: "Gosh, where could they have picked up that idea?"