Philippines Pulling Forces Out Of Iraq To Save Hostage

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-07-13 12:06am

CBC wrote:BAGHDAD - The Philippines said it would withdraw its peacekeeping force from Iraq "as soon as possible," in accordance with the demands of the extremist kidnappers of Filipino Angelo dela Cruz.

Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael Seguis read the statement for broadcast on Al-Jazeera, the Arab-language satellite television station, late Monday evening.

It was unclear, however, whether the troops would leave any earlier than the already scheduled pullout date of August 20.

Seguis also appealed to the abductors' humanity.
"I appeal to you and to your kind hearts as Muslims to please release Angelo dela Cruz so that he can return to his family and children," he said.

After originally vowing to "not bow to terrorist blackmail," the Philippine government made its apparent about-face as the Tuesday deadline set by the abductors loomed.

The kidnappers – a group calling itself Khaled Bin Al-Walid Squadrons, part of the Islamic Army of Iraq – on Sunday said they would kill dela Cruz if the Philippines did not pull its force out of Iraq by July 20.

The Philippines has 51 soldiers, police officers and health workers on a humanitarian mission in Iraq.

Manila originally said it would not extend the mandate of its force past August 20, after dela Cruz appeared last Wednesday in a televised video begging his government to withdraw its soldiers.

The country has stopped the deployment of its nationals in any capacity in Iraq. Some 4,100 Filipinos are believed to be working in U.S. military bases in Iraq as cooks and maintenance technicians.

Dela Cruz, a 46-year-old truck driver, was abducted some time around July 7.

While I aplaud any attempt to save this man's life, actions such as this will only encourage more hostage takings and murders of forgeiners that are there to help the Iraqi people. If the rebels want to hurt someone why don't they limit their attacks to soldiers who are legitimate targets.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-07-13 12:10am

Thank you, Phillipines, for screwing over every other country by admitting that terrorists can accomplish their goals.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-07-13 12:11am

Wow, if only we knew it was this easy during the Filipino insurrection.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-07-13 12:14am

They're going to get hundreds more foreigners kidnapped and killed to save one man. World class.

White Cat · Post by **White Cat** » 2004-07-13 03:31am

Another temporarily-satiated crocodile...

</me too>

BoredShirtless · Post by **BoredShirtless** » 2004-07-13 03:46am

Don't be brainwashed by the hack journalist who wrote that rubbish. The Undersecretary simply said that they will pull out as soon as possible; that doesn't mean that they'll leave before the pre-kidnapping date of August the 20th.

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2004-07-13 11:30am

Actually, so far, its still up in the air and the news article is bullshit, typical US media twisting of the facts,

President Arroyo herself stated that the withdrawal of Phillipine forces was in accordance with the Planned withdrawal of Phillipine troops in Iraq, and although she has not stated that she may move up the timetable for withdrawal in accordance with the terrorist demand, the decision to withdraw has absolutely nothing to do with the hostage situation.

But of course, the decision to announce it in a press conference, is widely seen as Gloria adminstration stragety for saying"Look, we already leaving. Don't do anything stupid"

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2004-07-13 11:33am

Subnote: The decision to withdraw the current troop contingent has already been planned for months, and isn't a tacitical retreat. As a warning, the Phillipines government has also ordered her nationals to withdraw from Iraq, similar to other warnings other governments gave in the insurgency.

However, this hostage situation may play a factor in weakening Gloria resolve to rotate in another contingent to replace those leaving.....

salm · Post by **salm** » 2004-07-13 11:41am

personally i´d send even more troops if terrorists did that.

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2004-07-13 11:43am

The orginal speech, as listed here on news

"In response to your request, the squadron, the Philippines government, consistent with its commitment, will withdraw its Philippines humanitarian contingent forces from Iraq as soon as preparations for their return are completed.

"On behalf of the Filipino people and the whole of humanity, and for the sake of the family of Angelo de la Cruz and his eight children, the Philippines government appeals to your compassion and mercy for his release

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2004-07-13 11:55am

Hmm.... I'd like to know what Shroomy has to say about this...

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2004-07-13 12:08pm

PainRack wrote:Subnote: The decision to withdraw the current troop contingent has already been planned for months, and isn't a tacitical retreat. As a warning, the Phillipines government has also ordered her nationals to withdraw from Iraq, similar to other warnings other governments gave in the insurgency.

However, this hostage situation may play a factor in weakening Gloria resolve to rotate in another contingent to replace those leaving.....

Who cares. From the terrorist perspective they've won.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-07-13 12:30pm

So, somebody seriously believes the terrorists' saying that they'll release the hostage alive?

Since when has that ever happened? (In any hostage situation, that is...)

White Cat · Post by **White Cat** » 2004-07-13 03:11pm

PainRack wrote:Actually, so far, its still up in the air and the news article is bullshit, typical US media twisting of the facts,

Uh, that article is from the TV network owned by Canadian government...

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-07-13 03:58pm

PainRack wrote:Actually, so far, its still up in the air and the news article is bullshit, typical US media twisting of the facts,

Are you fucking stupid? Does ".ca" mean anything to you? What do you think CBC means?

Nice to know our crop of kneejerking morons is still taking up oxygen and water and other valuable nutrients.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-07-13 05:17pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:Are you fucking stupid? Does ".ca" mean anything to you? What do you think CBC means?

Nice to know our crop of kneejerking morons is still taking up oxygen and water and other valuable nutrients.

Does that change the fact that the Philippines isn't pulling out because of the terrorists but still going with their scheduled pullout that they've been planning for months?

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2004-07-13 08:29pm

Does that change the fact that the Philippines isn't pulling out because of the terrorists but still going with their scheduled pullout that they've been planning for months?

That's about as comforting as someone in Spain explaining they voted for the Socialists for reasons other than the Madrid bombings. It may make perfect sense to them, but the message given to the terrorists is one that they were indeed sucessful in their efforts.

Frankly, I think this is more an expression of Filipino disatisfaction with the United States than anything else.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-07-13 09:07pm

Axis Kast wrote:That's about as comforting as someone in Spain explaining they voted for the Socialists for reasons other than the Madrid bombings. It may make perfect sense to them, but the message given to the terrorists is one that they were indeed sucessful in their efforts.

Are you kidding me, Axi? These terrorists declare victory no matter what the outcome is. The Philippines pulling out on the date they said they were pulling out for months before this happened is not a concession.

Frankly, I think this is more an expression of Filipino disatisfaction with the United States than anything else.

You mean that pulling out on the date they said they were pulling out for months is an expression of dissatisfaction with the United States? Huh.

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2004-07-13 09:31pm

Are you kidding me, Axi? These terrorists declare victory no matter what the outcome is. The Philippines pulling out on the date they said they were pulling out for months before this happened is not a concession.

This is a no-win situation for the United States and its allies, Gil.

Although the terrorists don't declare victory no matter the outcome (killing a hostage for no effect becomes a waste of resources), they do declare victory if the Phillipines leaves Iraq - regardless of the other circumstances surrounding the issue. And as long as the terrorists see it as a victory, they'll do it again.

You mean that pulling out on the date they said they were pulling out for months is an expression of dissatisfaction with the United States? Huh.

No; the popularity of negotiation for the hostage - i.e. the popularity for a withdrawal.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-07-13 09:39pm

Axis Kast wrote: This is a no-win situation for the United States and its allies, Gil.

Although the terrorists don't declare victory no matter the outcome (killing a hostage for no effect becomes a waste of resources), they do declare victory if the Phillipines leaves Iraq - regardless of the other circumstances surrounding the issue. And as long as the terrorists see it as a victory, they'll do it again.

What are you suggesting? That they should have made the decision to stay based on the kidnapping? Then the terrorists really would have had an effect.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-07-13 09:49pm

What is irony?

A terrorist is someone who advances their agenda, usually political, via generating fear and terror.

So, what do you call someone who says 'If you leave, you'll only encourage the bad guys! You have to stay!'..?

That, gentleman, is the unpleasant irony of this situation.

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2004-07-13 10:49pm

What are you suggesting? That they should have made the decision to stay based on the kidnapping? Then the terrorists really would have had an effect.

Would they have had an effect? Yes.

Would they have had the intended effect? No.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-07-13 10:55pm

Axis Kast wrote: Would they have had an effect? Yes.

Would they have had the intended effect? No.

So in other words, a "successful" act by the terrorists would have brought absolutely no change whatsoever in the scheduled pullout. All the terrorists did was convince ignorant people that they were responsible for the pullout which sounds like a problem of the ignorant people; the Philippino government does not have to be penalized for the stupidity of others.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-07-13 10:57pm

SirNitram wrote:What is irony?

A terrorist is someone who advances their agenda, usually political, via generating fear and terror.

So, what do you call someone who says 'If you leave, you'll only encourage the bad guys! You have to stay!'..?

That, gentleman, is the unpleasant irony of this situation.

Well, it's not really saying that if you leave, you will encourage the terrorists. It's more a problem of being seen as succumbing to the fear that the terrorists create, or in other words, letting them accomplish their goals.

And besides, since when have terrorists worked on the honor system?

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-07-13 10:58pm

Crayz9000 wrote:Well, it's not really saying that if you leave, you will encourage the terrorists. It's more a problem of being seen as succumbing to the fear that the terrorists create, or in other words, letting them accomplish their goals.

And besides, since when have terrorists worked on the honor system?

Never have, but I never suggested they did, either.