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Bush pledges help to Philippines in countering terrorism
President George W Bush eyed the Philippines as the newest terrorism battlefield, assuring its President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, that the United States will help her military as it pursues a militant Muslim group holding two American hostages.
President George W Bush eyed the Philippines as the newest terrorism battlefield, assuring its President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, that the United States will help her military as it pursues a militant Muslim group holding two American hostages.
The front against terror is not just in Afghanistan, Bush told reporters as he greeted Arroyo in the Oval Office. He suggested that members of al-Qaeda, the terrorist network blamed for the September 11 attacks, were operating in the Philippines, saying the us would hunt down terrorists in Afghanistan or the Philippines or anywhere al-Qaeda exists. Bush did not directly link al-Qaeda and the small, militant Abu Sayyaf movement in the Philippines' southwest corner, but us officials consider them to be loosely connected. Abu Sayyaf has been holding two American missionaries, Martin and Gracia Burnham of Wichita, Kansas, with 7,000 Filipino soldiers in pursuit. Arroyo expressed confidence that her military is up to the task, but Bush still offered to help in any way she suggests in getting rid of Abu Sayyaf. He said US and Filipino officials have been exchanging intelligence and strategy. When asked whether he would send US troops to the region, Bush said it would be up to Arroyo. She's confident that her military can deal with Abu Sayyaf, and for that I applaud her and wish her all the best, Bush said. We want to help her military deal with them.
Arroyo said she appreciated Bush's offer to help fight Abu Sayyaf, regardless of any potential ties to al Qaeda. The important thing is we are getting military, economic assistance that will help us, She said.
Bureau Report
The front against terror is not just in Afghanistan, Bush told reporters as he greeted Arroyo in the Oval Office. He suggested that members of al-Qaeda, the terrorist network blamed for the September 11 attacks, were operating in the Philippines, saying the us would hunt down terrorists in Afghanistan or the Philippines or anywhere al-Qaeda exists. Bush did not directly link al-Qaeda and the small, militant Abu Sayyaf movement in the Philippines' southwest corner, but us officials consider them to be loosely connected. Abu Sayyaf has been holding two American missionaries, Martin and Gracia Burnham of Wichita, Kansas, with 7,000 Filipino soldiers in pursuit. Arroyo expressed confidence that her military is up to the task, but Bush still offered to help in any way she suggests in getting rid of Abu Sayyaf. He said US and Filipino officials have been exchanging intelligence and strategy. When asked whether he would send US troops to the region, Bush said it would be up to Arroyo. She's confident that her military can deal with Abu Sayyaf, and for that I applaud her and wish her all the best, Bush said. We want to help her military deal with them.
Arroyo said she appreciated Bush's offer to help fight Abu Sayyaf, regardless of any potential ties to al Qaeda. The important thing is we are getting military, economic assistance that will help us, She said.
Bureau Report