| ARMS TRADE RESOURCE CENTER
The New York Times To the Editor: Re “U.S. Combat Force of 1,700 Is Headed to the Philippines” (front page, Feb. 21): It is alarming that even as war in Iraq looms on the horizon, and fighting in Afghanistan continues, American troops are beginning a major new counterterror operation to “disrupt and destroy” Muslim rebels in the Philippines. Are the risks of deploying troops there worth it to prove the Pentagon’s ability to fight a war in Iraq and still hunt down terrorists elsewhere? One American Green Beret has already been killed in the Philippines, and our new combat role puts our troops in greater danger. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has pledged her support in the war on terrorism and gained millions in military and economic aid as a result. But she is also committed to quashing domestic insurgency movements at any price, and recent reports of human rights abuses and torture in the Philippines are troubling. Is Washington sidelining human rights in the interest of enhancing its partnership with Manila? FRIDA BERRIGAN
Reports | Recent News Coverage | Updates | Links | Search | Contact Us |
