Manila pulls out of Iraq

[CHIMO]

With truck driver Angelo de la Cruz still being held hostage in Iraq, Philippine Foreign Secretary Delia Albert appeared on television on Tuesday to announce that her government has now decided to withdraw its troops from Iraq one month earlier than originally planned. Later in the day, a foreign ministry official announced that Mr De la Cruz was now known to be safe and no longer under threat of being murdered by his kidnappers.

The Philippines is the first country with troops in Iraq to give way in the face of such a threat, and the decision to pull its small contingent out of the country has met with criticism from some quarters, both at home and abroad, as an example of a nation bowing to terrorist threats.


"Well, the Americans and, I think, the Australians are hugely worried that it is, if you like, giving in to terrorism, and that this could be the thin edge of the wedge. There are certainly some precedents although, most commonly, when you get this kind of accession to demands it's done in a very private way. I think the difference here is this is somewhat high profile, and that again is a reflection of the domestic political environment within Manila, and the very recent demonstrations against the government for supporting the United States." <…>

"The Filipinos turn round and say that their troop numbers are very small – in fact they are down to barely 40 now – and that they had planned not to replace them when they were going to be withdrawn finally next month. So, from the Manila point of view, it is a case of just bringing forward a decision that had already been taking. But the political symbolism for the United States is really worrying, because they would have the fear that other states would follow suit if they have their own nationals subject to kidnapping."

http://www.rnw.nl/hotspots/html/phi040714.html

[burrowowl]

1. Get them out quick! eom