U.S. to crush al-Qaeda cells in S.E. Asia: Military chief
U.S. to crush al-Qaeda cells in S.E. Asia: Military chief
Agence France-Presse, Tabiawan, Philippines
United States military chief Gen. Richard Myers on Sunday vowed to crush al-Qaeda cells in Southeast Asia as he rallied American soldiers assisting Filipino troops in the hunt for Abu Sayyaf kidnappers.
Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the army's 103rd Brigade in the village of Tabiawan, near Basilan's capital Isabela, accompanied by Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, the chief of the Philippine military in the south.
Both generals were briefed by U.S. and Filipino commanders on the ongoing joint operation aimed at wiping out the Abu Sayyaf, a small group of Islamic rebels linked to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden who have been holding hostage a U.S. couple and a Filipina nurse since last year.
Myers also inspected roads being constructed by U.S. Seabee engineers aimed at helping Filipino troops maneuver more easily in Basilan's rough jungle-clad terrain before flying back to the joint command post in nearby Zamboanga city.
"The al-Qaeda has a presence in over 60 countries and (some of these) countries are here in Southeast Asia," Myers told reporters in Zamboanga city ahead of his departure aboard a U.S. military transport for Okinawa, Japan.
"We know its a very vast terrorist network and it needs to be destroyed. Wherever they are, here in Southeast Asia, or in the Middle East, we need to destroy them so they can't bring harm to innocent civilians or attack at random."
U.S. advisers are providing "security plans" to the Philippine military "for them to prosper in defeating terrorism," he said.
Some 160 U.S. Special Forces troops, backed by 340 military engineers, have been deployed in Basilan, where Abu Sayyaf gunmen are holding hostage U.S. Christian missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap.
The U.S. general arrived in the Philippines last Friday for the first leg of his three-nation swing in Asia.
In all there are nearly 4,000 U.S. troops in the Philippines -- over 1,000 in the south and 2,700 in the northern island of Luzon taking part in separate joint maneuvers aimed at preparing the Filipino army for peace keeping duties abroad.
Myers said he was "impressed" at the progress of the joint anti-terror campaign which is expected to end in July. The Philippine and U.S. militaries were evaluating the joint campaign, he said, adding that it was too early at this stage to say whether it would be extended beyond its six-month schedule.
Myers also refused to comment on the role of U.S. troops in rescue operations for the hostages for tactical considerations, but stressed that rescue and combat operations were the responsibility of the Filipino army.
"We only advise and assist," Myers said, adding the US deployment in the south was not meant to re-establish a permanent presence here 11 years after the Philippines shuttered two American bases on Luzon island.
"There is absolutely no intention for the U.S. to establish its presence or a base in the Philippines. We are here on behalf of the Philippine government, to train with them, to assist and advise and that is what we are doing," he said.