OEF Philippines (2012 onwards)
U.S. Special Operations Forces in the Philippines, 2001–2014
Read the full post and make any comments at the SWJ Blog.
Moderator adds: this SWJ Blog post has been copied here, in part as an update, but also as the exchange there supplements this thread.
TSG Intel Brief: The Philippines Battles Abu Sayyaf
TSG Intel Brief: The Philippines Battles Abu Sayyaf
Entry Excerpt:
--------
Read the full post and make any comments at the SWJ Blog.
This forum is a feed only and is closed to user comments.
OEF Philippines (2012 onwards)
TSG Intel Brief: The Philippines Battles Abu Sayyaf
I have copied the one comment made via Dave Maxwell, from a Filipino contact:
Quote:
I have a great deal of respect for Ali Soufan and the Soufan Group. Their report is accurate. I remain concerned about the acts of the Abu Sayyaf Group. BUT I temper that with some context. They are vastly reduced in size of actual hard members. They still get wide assistance from family and relationship based ''supporters.'' Those people are not necessarily ideological supporters but aid in some way due to social obligations. The ASG is largely confined to Basilan and Jolo. They don't have core reach the way they used to have. None of the groups in that region do. As the central government has improved schools, elections, roads to markets, and other governance issues the support for these people has withered. ASG's claim of allegiance to Daesh is still unclear as to scope, meaning and impact. Which way does money flow? We're not really sure. What fighters have gone to,Stria etc for training? We're not clear. Soufan raises good points, but I'm not raising my blood pressure. Yet.
ISIS's Alarming Inroads in the Southern Philippines
ISIS's Alarming Inroads in the Southern Philippines
Entry Excerpt:
--------
Read the full post and make any comments at the SWJ Blog.
This forum is a feed only and is closed to user comments.
Canadian hostage beheaded by Islamist militants
A sad update:
Quote:
Canadian hostage John Ridsdel, a former mining executive, has been killed by Abu Sayyaf militants in the
Philippines, a Canadian government official has confirmed.
(
At the end) Abu Sayyaf is also holding other foreigners, including one from the Netherlands, one from Japan, four Malaysians and 14 Indonesian tugboat crew.
Link:http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...in-philippines
Still here and one more hostage executed
Quote:
A Canadian hostage held by the militant group Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines has been killed, media reports say. Robert Hall was kidnapped in September along with three other hostages from Canada, the Philippines and Norway.Mr Hall was killed on Monday after a deadline for a ransom expired...It is still holding several captives, including a Dutch birdwatcher taken in 2012.
Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36517524
Philippines Peace Process: Duterte Playing For High Stakes
Philippines Peace Process: Duterte Playing For High Stakes
Entry Excerpt:
--------
Read the full post and make any comments at the SWJ Blog.
This forum is a feed only and is closed to user comments.
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
Entry Excerpt:
--------
Read the full post and make any comments at the SWJ Blog.
This forum is a feed only and is closed to user comments.
Philippine president wants U.S. troops out of his country
Quote:
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, during a visit to Japan, told Japanese and Philippine business leaders Wednesday that he wants foreign troops -- read U.S. troops -- out of his country, possibly within two years.
https://www.airforcetimes.com/articl...of-his-country
One of the riskiest regions in the maritime world
Piracy is a perennial problem in the waters around the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia known as the Sulu-Celebes Sea; with irregular Western media reports on kidnappings. This BBC report is an update, with a focus on multilateral action or inaction.
http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/c...7b0fc63f00.jpg
Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39252503
Philippines Struggles to Suppress ISIS-Linked Rebels as Foreign Fighters Found
Philippines Struggles to Suppress ISIS-Linked Rebels as Foreign Fighters Found
Entry Excerpt:
--------
Read the full post and make any comments at the SWJ Blog.
This forum is a feed only and is closed to user comments.
Philippines (2012 onwards, inc OEF)
Philippines Struggles to Suppress ISIS-Linked Rebels as Foreign Fighters Found
A SWJ Blog link to a WSJ report on the fighting with an ISIS affiliate in Marawi; which has several comments on veteran observers and our own local observer Dayuhan - worth a read.
Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force In Philippines Ended Too Soon, Mattis Says
Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force In Philippines Ended Too Soon, Mattis Says
Entry Excerpt:
--------
Read the full post and make any comments at the SWJ Blog.
This forum is a feed only and is closed to user comments.
Interview With COL David Maxwell on US Special Operations Troops Advising Philippines