Philippine’s President Duterte to US Troops: Leave Mindanao or Abus Will Kill You
Philippine's President Duterte to US Troops: Leave Mindanao or Abus Will Kill You by Alexis Romero, The Philippine Star
After blasting the US for supposedly interfering with his anti-drug war, President Rodrigo Duterte Monday called for the pullout of American troops in Mindanao as he blamed Washington for the conflict and security threats in the south.
Duterte said American troops in Mindanao should leave as they are in danger of being abducted by US-hating terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.
“The special forces, they have to go. They have to go in Mindanao. There are many whites there,” the president said during the oath taking of new appointees Monday in Malacañan.
“If they see an American, they would kill him. They would demand ransom then kill him. Even if you’re a black or white American as long as you are an American, (they will kill you),” he added.
Some US troops have been deployed in Zamboanga City to assist Philippine security forces in its campaign against terrorists. Since the Constitution prohibits foreign troops from engaging in direct combat operations, the US soldiers assist the military through training and information sharing.
“The situation there (in Mindanao) will worsen. If they (Americans) are seen there, they will be killed,” Duterte said…
I guess we will just have to get used to the idea of many of our old friends and allies — when we suggest that they should proceed more along modern western political, economic, social, and especially, value lines — will, rather than comply, threaten us with closer relations with China and/or Russia (what we might call “playing the China/Russia card”). China and Russia being nations which, famously, do not base their foreign policies/their international relations on such ideas/requirements:
BEGIN QUOTE
Upon his arrival in Davao City, the President told the media about China’s pledge to help in the administration’s anti-drug campaign.
“There will be plenty and China has committed to help us. I do not think that it has placed its limits there… And I said that we have this problem about, a serious, grave problem about drugs,” he said.
“And I informed the body that as a matter of fact China has offered its help, to which we responded with gratitude. We need it,” the President said.
END QUOTE
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/09/11/1622599/rody-vows-independent-foreign-policy-philippines
Thus, to consider that our so-called “soft power” might, instead, be becoming our “Achilles heel?”
Not a lot of policy thinking in all of this. Duterte has had a sore spot with Americans ever since an American held in connection with a bombing incident in Davao was whisked out of the country back in 2002. That was aggravated by Obama’s comments about current human rights issues, which struck a nerve: he is not fond of criticism. These comments are more backlash than anything else, and the military is already trying to backpedal away from them:
http://www.manilatimes.net/us-forces-here-to-stay-defense-secretary/285910/
and even Duterte is trying to “clarify”…something he does rather a lot:
http://www.rappler.com/nation/146361-duterte-clarifies-statement-us-troops