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.