Philippines Vows to Withdraw Troops From Iraq

[Shaun]

The philp's real colors are showing -- just a buch of cowards -- want to bet the Philippines are the next haven of the terrorists now that they know these people will cave in to threats.


Philippines Vows to Withdraw Troops From Iraq
NewsMax.com Wires
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
MANILA, Philippines – Frantically trying to obtain the release of a captive Filipino truck driver with the clock ticking down, the Philippines said Tuesday it would withdraw its tiny peacekeeping force from Iraq as soon as it could.

However, the statement, which followed all-night Cabinet consultations, was unclear as to whether Manila was advancing the pullout as demanded by the Iraqi militant kidnappers, or was sticking by its commitment to bring its 51-strong force home on Aug. 20 as planned.
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The confusion might have been deliberate as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo seeks to maintain her staunch support of the U.S.-led war on terrorism while avoiding a possible domestic backlash if Angelo dela Cruz, a 46-year-old father of eight, is beheaded.
"The Philippine government, consistent with its commitment, will withdraw its Philippine humanitarian contingent forces in Iraq as soon as preparations for their return to the Philippines are completed," Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said in a statement to a Filipino reporter in Baghdad.

However, when the Arab television station Al-Jazeera aired the statement, Seguis was quoted as saying the withdrawal would be made "as soon as possible."

The Philippine government, which has imposed a news blackout on the crisis, did nothing to clarify the issue.

'What Is Necessary'

"Let us leave the government to do what is necessary to save the life of an innocent Filipino and to uphold our nation's interest," presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

"It is not for us to judge and raise our voices now that Angelo's life hangs in the balance. This is the most sensitive point in the hostage crisis. We must unite behind Angelo's family, keep our peace and pray hard."

Seguis' TV appearance came after the militant group, Iraqi Islamic Army-Khaled bin Al-Waleed Corps, issued a statement at midnight Monday Philippine time (11 a.m. EDT) that suddenly advanced a deadline for Philippine action on the group's demands and gave Manila only three hours to respond.

The deadline, the third since dela Cruz was snatched last Wednesday, passed with no indication on his fate. His kidnappers said he had been moved to the place where he would be killed, and Al-Jazeera aired a plea from the captive asking Arroyo to yield to their demands.

Dela Cruz wore an orange garment similar to those worn by two other hostages who have been beheaded: American Nicholas Berg and South Korean Kim Sun-il. He asked that his body be sent to the Philippines for burial should he be killed.

Feliciano dela Cruz Jr., brother of the captive, woke up to the news that the deadline had lapsed.

"We don't know anything," he said, complaining about a government-mandated news blackout on tense negotiations with the kidnappers. "We are asking our president where our brother is."


'Pack Up'


Military spokesman Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero said a plan was in place for a "phased pullout" from the three areas in central Iraq where the Filipinos are based.

"The troops have been pre-warned that they may be asked at any time to move out," he said. "That means they should pack up. But we have not gotten the final order to go."

In his televised statement, Seguis also made a heartfelt plea to the kidnappers.

On behalf of the Philippines and dela Cruz's family, Seguis said, "I appeal to your compassion and mercy for his release."


Terrorism Is So Very Peaceful and Compassionate

Seguis, who was in Baghdad working to get dela Cruz freed, said that Islam was a religion of peace and compassion.

"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.

Recognizing the fine line that Manila was taking to obtain dela Cruz's release while remaining one of Washington's closest supporters, Secretary of State Colin Powell called Arroyo.

"We applaud President Arroyo's decision not to give in to terrorists and not to agree to an early withdrawal of Filipino forces," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Monday.

But Arroyo's handling of the crisis has also drawn criticism. About 400 protesters marched to the presidential palace Monday to demand the withdrawal of Filipino troops from Iraq, but were turned back by riot police using truncheons and shields.

Iraqi militants have repeatedly used terrorist attacks to try to force governments to withdraw from the U.S.-led occupation force.

[TScottW99]

Cowards.

Of course their country is already full of Terrorists and has been for decades.

[Rufus Rhastus J]

On the bright side, an innocent will not die. Besides, there are only a couple dozen troops there anyway....not even a drop in the bucket. Sadly, however, this sends a bad note, but, once again, the precident has already been set by those cowards in Sapin...or was it Italy....I forget.

[colt45]

both, and no matter they are doing this not to save that one man but to get even with us for refuseing to comit troops to them to save thier bacon from all the unrest again.

[Mon Bathan]

Just an opinion.

1. Every country is full of terrorist and to claim that one country has none is ridiculous. To claim that for decades the Philippines has been a haven of terrorist, it is just the same with other countries, even the U.S. Developed countries may even have more terrorist in their native land but they may not know it or pretends not to know it or worst they may even be working with them hand in hand. This is an economic, social and political fact and comparing countries of whether or not such is a haven of terrorist is immaterial as such variable is in the system of every country regardless how advanced or underdeveloped they are.

2. To claim that we are a nation of cowards is inappropriate. The decision of the Philippine president does not represent the decision of the nation. Unfortunately she was in power to call the shots.

Just the same, not all of the members here in G&G supports President Bush decisions. President Bush went to invade Iraq and won in the process but that doesn't mean that all Americans are with him. A lot of american's also dissented and for what reason, I respect that as their position.

If only a Filipino combatant was in the place of Angelo dela Cruz, the truck driver, I am pretty sure you people will get to see how courage can be best manifested.

I am not saying Filipinos are all good but not all of them are bad. Besides, not all heads of state in the globe make wise, appropriate and right decision at all times. For what its worth, to me a life of a human being is always worthy to be saved anytime of the day. However, whether it is the right thing to do is another thing to consider.

Mon Bathan

[colt45]

easy there bat man, no one is yanking your utility belt. just disagreeing with your gov. or lack there of.

[Mon Bathan]

I'm cool, just expressing a thought colt.

mon

[Shaun]

Hey Mon where you been hiding -- we haven't seen you a in a while now

[Mon Bathan]

Still make it a point to visit the site and read the usual trading of funny antics but I have been busy with work and all that stuff. Thanks for asking Shaun.

Mon

[whirlwind]

pardon the pun but i really dont give a "flip" if they leave iraq or not. they sent 50 people...my home town highschool football team could whoop their azzes. to be very thruthful , i didnt even know they had troops over there until i head they may be leaving.

[Mon Bathan]

ya they were a small military humanitarian force, but these technical and small number of soldiers were already able to rebuild most of the houses and schools damaged during the war, conduct training and serve in the medical missions for the people, in varying locations in Iraq.

Sorry whirlwind but it is not a question of how many troops a country deploys but more on how each troop achieve the collective purpose of their deployment. They were sent there mainly not to fight the war as it has been won already but to aide in rebuilding Iraq. This is the battle they want to win not for the pride of any nation but for the dignity of the people in Iraq who believes that there will really be democracy and prosperity in their homeland after the war. This was promised to them and in our own small ways we are just trying to contribute a VERY SMALL effort. I think this is the true measure of charity, not by words but by deeds.

Remember that the true measure of a soldier does not depend on the number of battle he has been or has won but more on how he has faced and performed in each battle he had been.

Hope this makes sense.

Mon

[whirlwind]

makes perfect sense,i am not trying to diminish what their troops were doing there at all.rather, i am saying that them sending that small amount of troops was at best,just a token so that their country could say "we helped you U.S.A. we are your buddies!" i believe that bush's "line in the sand" he drew about countries being with us or against us did not fall on deaf ears. if you want to talk about a country making sacrafices by sending a "small" force then talk about japan. since world war 2 they have forbiden their troops to go beyond their borders to take part in any action,but they came when we called even if it goes completely against their law. but the philippines hasnt liked us since we ran the japs out for them back in ww2. i think they sent troops just to save their selves eventually.

[Mon Bathan]

There was a post I did long time ago but to go through its fine line, there is no distinction with the word sacrifice, meaning every sacrifice is noble. One cannot say that my sacrifice is better than yours.

After WWII both countries has helped each other and benefited from it. As to how the political, social and economic relations progressed, with the turnout of the U.S. and Philippine Presidents, such have spelled specific differences... but it is not right that Philippines disliked U.S. after WWII.

The Philippines was one among the first few countries who readily supported the call of President Bush and in recognition to this collective belief for the war in Iraq President Bush visited Philippines after the war in Iraq had been won.

All I am saying here is that we should not quantify assistance or sacrifices of any country who are one with the collective belief to rebuild Iraq. The effort done by Philippines may be just a "dot" but if these small dots can be combined with other dots in the process, it will still form a figure enough to say that such was an equally good contribution. It is not a question of how much or how many was done by one or the other.... it is a question of why it was done and how it was done. Meeting the ends as guided by the purpose.

mon

[whirlwind]

the government likes the u.s. thats for sure,but the people have a basic dislike for america is what im saying, ive seen their anti-american protests on tv and seen the hostages they have taken.and once again im not dismissing the acomplishments of their individual soldiers in iraq. with all the people in the philippines that have been demonstrating for their government to pull out of iraq im surprised that their government ever sent any at all.

[Mon Bathan]

The elected president of the Philippines, Gloria Arroyo, has only assumed her post a few days ago. However, it was just a continuity of the 3-year term from the ousted President Estrada. I may be wrong but I suppose she just don't have the conviction to face the odds and see the after effects of her decision on a larger picture. She just folded to public outcry. Her having a bad image among fellow Filipinos at this early stage of her government can result to an early demise of her Presidency. (selfish) However, the protests being staged are limited and were done only by small (200-400) number of people from the militant-oriented groups. The cameramen who tool that picture knows how to position his shots.

[Rufus Rhastus J]

Yeah, that camera man was probably trained at CNN!

[Rave]

Perhaps every other country does not have the interest of commitment we have in this war.

[NRAJOE]

Originally Posted by Rave

Perhaps every other country does not have the interest of commitment we have in this war.

Every country should.... :uzi: :nod:

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by NRAJOE

Every country should.... :uzi: :nod:

:right: :right: :right: :right: :right: :right: :right:

[Oxford]

Mon Bathan...we've missed your posts. Glad to hear from you again. We needed your input on this thread...and you've brought up some very good points. Good luck to you...and to your new president as she faces this crisis. :right:

Ox