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| Southeast Asia |
| Iraqi Funding for anti-U.S. protests being probed |
| 2003-02-10 |
| Intelligence agencies are reportedly investigating the involvement of supporters of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain in financing anti-U.S. protests by several militant groups in Manila, reports said yesterday. The Philippine Star newspaper citing military and police intelligence "sources", also said that about $200,000 in cash was distributed by Iraqi contacts to some members of southern Philippines-based secessionist groups as budget for "sympathy attacks" to be held in the country against the U.S. Sources from the local intelligence community, however, refused to confirm the report but said "such information cannot be discounted". Intel diplospeak for it's true, but we can't say so yet. A flurry of protests in Manila against what local groups described as "U.S. aggression against Iraq" has met United States President George W. Bush's recent statements implying that America is ready to act on its own against Iraq amidst what Washington said was fresh evidence that it is maintaining weapons of mass destruction. The Philippine Star report said various intelligence agencies, including the National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA), the local equivalent of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), are evaluating information that pro-Saddam forces are funding local groups protests. The protesters were mainly leftist anti-American groups, Muslim peace advocates and trade unions concerned over the safety of more than a million overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in the Middle East. President Gloria Arroyo's government is carefully toeing the line over the issue against Iraq. Concerns over the safety of OFWs is compelling Arroyo to reconsider openly supporting Bush's anti-Iraq vilification drive. Had not thought about that, Filipino workers are everywhere in the middle east doing jobs the locals won't. They would be easy targets for any backlash. She does have to be careful. The U.S. has been a major source of military aid that the Arroyo government has been able to secure from last year in the fight against local rebel groups. Recently, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople warned Iraqi Charge d'Affaires Samir Al Masih Bulos against joining anti-U.S. protests after his wife and two children were photographed by a local newspaper joining a demonstration in Manila. Bulos also appeared, together with Vice-President Teofisto Guingona, an anti-American firebrand, at a forum held against the U.S. war against Iraq. Military sources said they are evaluating reports that Saddam and his associates have sent officials to South-East Asian countries, including the Philippines, to monitor public reaction and "developments" in the region shortly after the September 11 attacks in the U.S. Last Saturday, security forces were placed under heightened alert to thwart sympathy attacks by extremists in the event of a U.S. war on Iraq. Col. Michael Maniquiqis, public information chief of the army, said the military is ready to thwart any local attack from groups sympathetic to Iraq. "We are prepared to counter terrorist attacks." Hope so. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 Well, in a word - DUH! |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-02-10 09:54:17 |