| U.S. special forces will join the Philippine military in operations against Muslim guerrillas, but will limit themselves to advice and will not take part in combat. The operation, billed as a joint exercise, will be the first significant military expansion of Washington's war against terrorism beyond Afghanistan. In line with curbs in the Philippine constitution, the special forces and other U.S. troops supporting them will not go into battle themselves against the rebels. Not a good place to be, but the PI will be better off without Abu Sayyaf. They seem to be doing a good enough job themselves against the Moro National Liberation Front. Unless they can line up new funding, both groups should be slowly evaporating within the next six months. |