SOUNDING BOARD is an outlet for opinions on good and crazy things going on at home (wherever I may be). All are welcome. You are not expected to bring anything except your common sense & sense of humor.
'If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get one million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.'
-Robert X. Cringely (from geek wisdom)
SOUNDING BOARD
Monday, March 03, 2003
_____________________________________________
Deployment of US troops in Sulu for military execises: defend-then-attack semantics?
Amidst growing objections to the deployment of US troops in Sulu, Malacanang is hellbent on how to mask the deployment into semantics so as not to contradict the prohibition stated in the Philippine Constitution.
The problem is, even if the government restricts the US troops' action to military exercises, the troops may defend themselves when fired upon. It would be suicide not to grant them authority to do that. Given the perfect timing that this military exercises will take place, there is a good chance that US troops may 'defend' themselves. Some sectors are concerned that the defensive tactic may be used to justify involvement of US troops in combat. The defend-then-attack is a viable method for 'defenders' who have better weapons and superior tactical system (Alexander, B., How Wars Are Won: The 13 Rules of War from Ancient Greece to the War on Terror 2002.).
This deployment issue is further heated by President Arroyo's 90-day deadline to crush the Abu Sayyaf. This is nothing new. Arroyo's Medium Term Philippine Development Plan targets the annihilation of Abu Sayyaf by 2003. Strategic Forecasting, a US think-tank said that this deadline is ill-advised (only this one?) because it may invite insurgents (of course they did not categorically used that word) to launch new attacks on weak areas, i.e., areas deprived of military presence due to the intensified attack on Abu Sayyaf. Sure. And this, ladies and gentlemen provides more justification for US intervention. So what's new? Didn't another US think-tank recommend warming up the Philippine soil for US troops in case these troops are needed for an immediate US intervention in Taiwan? Coincidence?
And what if the hype on the Abu Sayyaf deadline is Arroyo's tactic to divert the real intention - to strike hard on MILF? Holding one place, striking another? Nah. She's not that smart, is she?
posted by Allan at 11:01 AM (GMT+8)
permalink (URL of this post) ::
