The U.S. Military Just Plunged Philippine Politics into Crisis

[newthinking]

The U.S. Military Just Plunged Philippine Politics into Crisis

American fingerprints are all over a botched commando raid in the southern Philippines
that left dozens dead and shocked the country.
Foreign Policy in Focus


Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters in 2008 (Photo: Keith Bacongco / Flickr)

Early in the morning of January 25, commandos belonging to the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police crept into the southern town of Mamasapano — a stronghold of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The elite Seaborne Unit had come for Zulkifli Abdhir, a Malaysian bomb maker better known as “Marwan.”

By the end of the morning, dozens lay dead.

The episode has severely discredited the administration of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, jeopardized decades of progress on peace talks with Moro separatists, and underlined the perils for developing world governments that put themselves at the beck and call of Washington.

The commandos were able to kill Marwan, who’d sat high on the FBI’s list of “Most Wanted Terrorists.” But then all hell broke loose. The insurgents woke up and opened fire on the intruders, forcing the commandos to leave Marwan’s body behind. They had to content themselves with cutting off the corpse’s index finger to turn over to the FBI.

As they retreated, nine of the Seaborne commandoes were killed. They radioed for help, but they were told that the “Quick Reaction Force” charged with covering their withdrawal was already pinned down in a flat cornfield with little cover. Over the next few hours, that separate unit of 36 men was picked off one-by-one by Moro snipers. Only one of the 36 survived, by running for his life and jumping into a nearby river.

Continued:
http://fpif.org/the-u-s-military-just-plunged-philippine-politics-into-crisis/

[shaayecanaan]

1. thanks for this

Hopefully given that the moros killed so many federales there will be no reprisals.