Philippines bends over and spreads 'em wide

[KrazyHorse]

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/07/12/world/delacruz040712

a) As much as I disagreed with the Iraq war, those who supported it have a moral obligation to stick it out now. They invaded the country, destroyed all existing legal, military and political structure and thus must stay until they've gotten Iraq back on its feet

b) You don't negotiate with terrorists. If somebody takes a Canadian hostage I hope the Canadian government has the good sense to do everything to get him back safely except for acceding to the demands of his kidnapers

to the Philippines

[Harry Tuttle]

Yeah, this is a bunch of bull. Have they made these same concessions to the muslim terrorists in their country? The same ones the U.S. has sent over troops and observers to help contain?

[Space05us]

BAGHDAD - The Philippines said it would withdraw its peacekeeping force from Iraq "as soon as possible," in accordance with the demands of the extremist kidnappers of a national citizen, Angelo dela Cruz.

Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael Seguis read the statement for broadcast on Al-Jazeera, the Arab-language satellite television station, late Monday evening.


Relatives and neighbors continue their prayer vigil outside the house of Filipino hostage Angelo dela Cruz
(AP PHOTO)
It was unclear, however, whether the troops would leave any earlier than than the already scheduled pullout date of August 20.


Seguis also appealed to the abductors' humanity.

"I appeal to you and to your kind hearts as Muslims to please release Angelo dela Cruz so that he can return to his family and children," he said.

After originally vowing to "not bow to terrorist blackmail," the Philippine government made its apparent about-face as the Tuesday deadline set by the abductors loomed.

The kidnappers – a group calling itself Khaled Bin Al-Walid Squadrons, part of the Islamic Army of Iraq – on Sunday said they would kill dela Cruz if the Philippines did not pull its force out of Iraq by July 20.

The Philippines has 51 soldiers, police officers and health workers on a humanitarian mission in Iraq.

Manila originally said it would not extend the mandate of its force past August 20, after dela Cruz appeared last Wednesday in a televised video begging his government to withdraw its soldiers.

The country has stopped the deployment of its nationals in any capacity in Iraq. Some 4,100 Filipinos are believed to be working in U.S. military bases in Iraq as cooks and maintenance technicians.

Dela Cruz, a 46 year-old truck driver, was abducted some time around July 7

at least paste the article in your first post, some of us are lazy you know.

[Drake Tungsten]

Apparently years of Spanish influence on the Phillipines had a greater effect on that country's psyche than I had thought.

[MosesPresley]

This is what happens when you pay for your coalition members participation instead of using loyal old allies. You get what you pay for.

[Az]

to Krazyhorse.

[Lancer]

I didn't see anything about this in the Manila Times...

[Q Classic]

it would also be interesting to note that unlike canada, japan, or korea, the philippines has a islamic insurgent group within its own borders.

[Verto]

What a bunch of cowards. This just feeds the fire.

[Timexwatch]

How long until Abu Sayaff et. al. take a group of Filipinos or Foreigners hostage and demand something like the withdrawl of troops from Mindinao?

[Lancer]

I don't buy this.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Q Cubed
it would also be interesting to note that unlike canada, japan, or korea, the philippines has a islamic insurgent group within its own borders.

Yep, and I'm sure the Islamicists won't draw any lessons from this.

But don't worry about our interests in the Philippines. All we're doing right now is sending military advisors to the jungles of Southeast Asia in order to help the local government contain a well-organized, popular guerrilla uprising. What could possibly go wrong there?

Suddenly moving to Manila next month...as an American diplomat...has lost just a bit of it's appeal.

[JohnT]

CNN is reporting the same, Lancer:

Source: Abductors promise to release Filipino hostage
Monday, July 12, 2004 Posted: 9:09 PM EDT (0109 GMT)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A source in the Philippine embassy in Baghdad said Monday that abductors holding a Filipino truck driver have promised to release him Tuesday. It was not clear how that message was conveyed.

The news came moments after the Philippine government said it would withdraw its 50-member humanitarian force from Iraq "as soon as possible" to save the life of Angelo de la Cruz, a 46-year-old father of eight....

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/07/12/iraq.main/index.html

[Pekka]

Are these kidnappers kind of stupid or what, I mean you're getting these 'we were leaving anyway in few months, now we leave earlier'... ???!!

[Lancer]

CNN? I'll wait for someone reliable like FOX.



The reason I don't buy this is that the Philippines have been fighting moslem insurgants forever. They do occasionally cut a deal but the fighting starts up again sooner or later. Also Arroyo is tight with Bush and just won reelection.

Doesn't make sense.