With Us or Against Us
Page 41
in the press at the time). In November 1994, the Pentagon, with Ramos’s
support, proposed to broaden the limited access agreement of 1992 with
an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) giving the U.S.
military rights in the Philippines, and the use of Philippine territory as a
launching pad for possible U.S. intervention.
32. Under the name of the annual Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) Military
Exercise, 1200 Philippine troops and 660 U.S. troops engaged in a
* * *
242
F arish A. Noor
six months to one year joint military operations against the Abu Sayyaf.
Previous Philippine-U.S.military exercises in various parts of Luzon and
Mindoro have avoided areas of rebel or dissident operations, obviously,
to prevent a deeper involvement by U.S. forces in internal conflicts. Even
at the height of U.S. military activity on the U.S. bases in the 1960s and
1970s, U.S. military forces kept a low profile in the counter-insurgency
campaign in the surrounding Central Luzon provinces. American troops
deployed in the Philippines thus far, between 2001 and 2003, include: in
late 2001—Initial military presence: 250 American troops based all over
the country to help with counter-insurgency work, training, and intelli-
gence gathering; most operatives based in Basilan and southern island
provinces; in late-2001–early-2002—additional 660 American troops,
including 160 Special Operations Forces (SOFs), Navy SEALS units, and
Green Beret commandos. Used as U.S. contingent in U.S.-Philippines
Balikatan joint exercise with Abu Sayyaf as live human targets. Mostly
based in Southern Mindanao; and American forces that have been picked
for their expertise in counter-terrorism. They are licensed to conduct
covert and overt operations given the fact that some of them are operatives
of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other U.S. spy networks
wearing soldier’s uniform.
33. Quoted in BBC, US Pledges Troops for Philippines, May 19, 2003 (BBC
world service—BBC.co.uk).
34. See Five-Power Defence Group Shifts it Focus to Terrorism (Malaysiakini.com,
June 2, 2003).
35. See BBC, US Pledges Troops for Philippines, May 19, 2003 (BBC world
service—BBC.co.uk).
36. See BBC, Schools Torched in Aceh Conflict, May 20, 2003 (BBC world
service—BBC.co.uk).
37. See Malaysia–US Ties Heading Towards New Low, Warns US Envoy
(Malaysiakini.com, May 29, 2003).
Reports
Growing American-Philippine Military and Diplomatic Co-operation and its
Impact on Malaysia/ASEAN. Background report for ABIM Bureau of
International Affairs (ABIM/BIA/Rep.no.02/0203/ Philippines-US).
* * *
Document Outline
Cover
Contents
Acknowledgments
Notes on Contributors
Introduction: The Banality of Anti-Americanism
1 A New Master Narrative? Reflections on Contemporary Anti-Americanism
2 Anti-Americanism and Americanophobia: A French Perspective
3 Anti-Americanism in French and European Public Opinion
4 Is There a New Anti-Americanism? Reflections on Germany in Times of Global Simultaneity
5 America’s Best Friends in Europe: East-Central European Perceptions and Policies toward the United States
6 The Special Russian Way: The Origin and Evolution of Russian Perceptions about the United States
7 Saudi Perceptions of the United States since 9/11
8 The Palestinian Perception of America after 9/11
9 Anti-Americanism in Pakistan
10 Three Sources of Anti-Americanism in Iran
11 Uncle Sam to the Rescue? The Political Impact of American Involvement in ASEAN Security and Political Issues in the Wake of 9/11
* * *