Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Being told how to fight

Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003 | 8:22 a.m.

AMERICANS ARE WONDERING if there is such a thing as a true friend in this modern world. No country had been more loyal than the Philippines since the end of World War II. I always looked upon Filipinos as special friends and enjoyed their company both during times of peace and international stress. Prior to and during the infamous Bataan Death March in 1942, when Americans and Filipinos died together, they earned our admiration.

Prior to WWII, thousands of Filipinos served and many continue to serve in our armed forces. Also, military service was a quick way to gain United States citizenship. Today some of our finest citizens add to our culture by knowing and displaying their Philippine heritage. Our nation spent large sums of tax dollars keeping the Philippine government afloat and insurgents suppressed for several decades. The U.S. also quietly returned all of our military bases or closed them down in the Philippines except Subic Bay Naval Base. In 1991 that country's Senate refused to extend our lease on Subic Bay for another 10 years. Thousands of Filipinos made good wages working in and around U.S. military bases. Despite receiving $203 million annual rent for the base the senators wanted Uncle Sam to leave. In 1992 Uncle Sam finished his withdrawal and closed down the naval facility at Subic Bay.

Ten years later, in 2002, the Philippine government felt threatened by the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim terrorist group on Basilan Island. Because of our own war on terrorism the Department of Defense sent 1,300 special troops to train Filipino soldiers and guide them in combat. The Americans weren't allowed to use their weapons except in self-defense.

Evidently the trained Filipinos had some success and the terrorists eventually set up their headquarters on Jolo Island. Eric Schmitt of The New York Times writes, "While the American-led mission effectively drove Abu Sayyaf from Basilan and parts of southern Mindanao, the American-trained Philippine forces have not sustained the momentum. Abu Sayyaf has been tied to a string of recent bombings and attacks in the southern Philippines, including an explosion outside a karaoke bar last November that killed Sgt. First Class Mark Wayne Jackson and two Filipinos and injured many more, Pentagon officials said."

This situation resulted in another agreement between the two governments. Last week the Pentagon announced that Special Forces and Marines would be sent this time with the ability to engage the enemy when possible. Writer Greg Miller of The Los Angeles Times reported:

"Unlike recent deployments of Americans for training exercises with Philippine troops, officials said, the new commitment calls for the first time for direct involvement of U.S. forces in patrols designed to capture or kill members of Abu Sayyaf, a militant Islamic group, in the jungles of Sulu province.

"Officials said about 750 ground troops, including 350 Special Forces soldiers, would work with Philippine forces hunting members of Abu Sayyaf, which kidnapped two American missionaries in 2001. One of the missionaries was killed in a rescue attempt last June."

Oops! Not so fast. Here come the Filipino politicians demanding that the U.S. forces not be a combat unit because "it's against the Philippine Constitution." Among the challengers is Sen. Aquilino Pimentel. It will be interesting to see how this whole mess plays out. The United States is OK when it can be used, but our troops must play according to the rules of our "friends."

As I wrote in 1991, I would tell Sen. Pimentel:

Adios. Hasta la vista. Hasta luego. Vaya con dios. Don't call us -- we'll call you.