What Hppened to the SF guys in the Philippines??

[robwarrior]

Wat happened to the special forces in the philippines?? ever since the iraq thing broke out the media suddenly lost interest?

[papabear]

As far as I can tell the media aren't in any position to provide information on the matter. I really doubt the US government would want to say what we are doing there, for the sake of security. On the other hand, I doubt any foreign reporters would want to go spend time with the native population in those areas where SF is operating. I believe those populations are predominantly Muslim and very hostile to Westerners. Maybe a year after operations are completed someone will write an article or book on what happened there, but I really doubt anything will come before then, unless something really dramatic happens, e.g. we find Osama hiding in the Philippines.

[papabear]

http://www.ict.org.il/inter_ter/orgdet.cfm?orgid=3
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/719623.stm
http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/tgp/asc.htm
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/asg.htm
http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/sayyaf.cfm

[hood]

Well, it's because there isn't much of a story to tell. It was going to ramp up significantly when it was mentioned that the US SF would conduct combat operations there, but all that fell apart when the Philippine government decided to fall back to their constitution which forbids foreign troops on their soil for combat purposes. They've just continued to train the Philippine forces in weapons and tactics which isn't very exciting from a media stand point. There's tons of pictures in the Op En Freedom section.. a few new ones were added in the last month or so.

[robwarrior]

thanks hood!! that sucks though the Phil gov fell back to its const. i would really like to see the SF in action here. the Philippines was once safe haven for Al-Qaeda members. its posiible that Osama could be here?? hmmmmm?????

[hood]

Well, I'm actually in agreement with the Philippine government. We can give them aid and training, but they have a very large special forces section in their military. There's no reason why they can't take care of the problem in their country if they're determined enough.

[robwarrior]

they do have a large spec force units but that war has been going on for quite some time now.. i think the Phil SF isnt effective enuff on carrying out their operations agains the Abu Sayyaf..

[robwarrior]

Yah ure right!! its better they dont get much press or no press at all!! helps wd theyre OPSEC and in my personal opinion i think that the SF guys here are doing Covert OPS against the Abu Sayyaf engagaging in combat alongside Phil. troops :roll:

[hood]

Highly doubtful. When it's been rejected by the government and is against their constitution, if it were to happen and it was found out, (which such things almost ALWAYS are) it would be catastrophic.